Lok Sabha Question No. 3551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Investment on Rural Roads
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3551 ANSWERED ON 17/12/2024

## INVESTMENT ON RURAL ROADS

## 3551. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether investment on rural roads  has a vital role  to  play  in waging war against rural poverty, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  rural  road planning in the  country  needs  to  be strengthened and modified as per the present-day needs;
- (c) whether there is a proposal to build 62,500 km.  rural roads by 2029;
- (d) if so, the details of rural road planned to be built State/Districtwise particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh including Balaghat district;
- (e) the details of the road constructed under PMGSY in Maharashtra  and  Madhya  Pradesh  during  the  last  ten  years along  with  the  share  of  the  Government  of  Maharashtra thereon; and
- (f) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  improving infrastructure and connectivity across rural areas, particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (f): Pradhan Mantri gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) is a one-time special intervention of Government of India to provide rural connectivity,  by  way  of  a  single  all-weather  road,  to  the  eligible unconnected  habitations  in  the  core  network.   It  was  launched  in the  year  2000  as  a  poverty  alleviation  measure  in  rural  areas  by ensuring access of rural population to basic services through good quality  roads.  The  programme  covered  unconnected  habitations with a population of 500+ in the plain areas and 250+ in the hilly and

North Eastern States, desert areas and identified backward districts.  Later  on  the  programme  was  extended  to  habitations having  population  of  100  or  more  in  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE) affected blocks.

PMGSY-II was launched in May, 2013 and envisages consolidation  of  the  existing  Rural  Road  Network  to  improve  its overall efficiency as a provider of transportation services for people, goods and services.

Road  Connectivity  Project  for  Left  Wing  Extremism  Affected Areas  (RCPLWEA)  was  launched  in  the  year  2016  with  an  aim  to improve  the  road  connectivity  in  44  worst  affected  LWE  districts and some adjoining districts in 9 States, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha, Telangana  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  The  scheme  has  twin  objectives  of enabling smooth and seamless anti-LWE operations by the security forces and also ensuring socio-economic development of the area.

The Government approved PMGSY-III in July, 2019 for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting  habitations,  inter-alia  to  Gramin  Agricultural  Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

Recently,  Government  of  India  has  approved  phase  IV  of PMGSY  in  September  2024  to  provide  all-weather  connectivity  to 25,000  unconnected  habitations  of  population  size  500+  in  plains, 250+ in NE & Hill Sates/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule V,  Aspirational  Districts/Blocks,  Desert  areas)  and  100+  in  LWE affected districts, as per Census 2011. The timeline for completion of  PMGSY-IV  is  March  2029.   The  survey  for  eligible  unconnected habitations is being carried out by the States with the use of Gram Sadak  Survey  App. The  Ministry  is  coordinating  closely  with  the

State Governments and providing the required assistance.

During  last  ten  years, the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana (PMGSY)  has led to significant infrastructure development in Maharashtra  and  Madhya  Pradesh.  In  Maharashtra,  1,160  roads spanning 8,192 kilometers and 815 Long Span Bridges (LSBs) have been constructed. Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, a total of 8,154 roads covering  38,848  kilometers  and  1,337  LSBs  have  been constructed.

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