Lok Sabha Question No. 1778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Revision of PMGSY Guidelines
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Kunduru Raghuveer

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1778 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## REVISION OF PMGSY GUIDELINES

## 1778. Shri KunduruRaghuveer:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  roads  constructed under the Pradhan Mantri GramSadakYojana (PMGSY), including  in  the  NalgondaLokSabha  Constituency  are  often limited  to5.5  meter  intermediate  lanes,  which  pose  serious safety hazards and contribute to frequent roadaccidents;
- (b) the  number  of  accidents  reported,  both  fatal  and  non-fatal during  the  last  five  years  onPMGSY  roads  in  Nalgonda  and across the country due to narrow road width, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to revise PMGSY guidelines to  permit  double-lane  (7-meter  wide)  roads  in  high-traffic  or accident-prone rural areas;
- (d) the present criteria for determining road width under PMGSY;
- (e) whether traffic volume and accident data are considered, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps being taken to improve  road safety, including widening existing roads and addingsignage, lighting and safety features?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) & (b): As per guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana  (PMGSY),  Indian  Road  Congress  (IRC)  specifications and  provisions  in  Rural  Road  Manual,  carriageway  width  of  roads including the roads in NalgondaLokSabha Constituency, is decided based on the projected traffic in terms of Passenger Car Unit (PCU) per  day  plying  on  the  roads,  existing  carriageway  width,  land availability, etc. The carriageway may be widened to 3.75 m or 5.5 m  depending  upon  the  traffic  (PCU/  day) plying  on  the  roads  and other  site-specific  factors  as  assessed  and  proposed  by  the  State

Government while sending the Detailed Project Report. The works under  the  scheme  are  sanctioned  by  the  Ministry  based  on  the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted by the respective State Governments and implemented by the State Governments.

Rural  Roads  is  a  State  subject  and  roads  under  PMGSY  are constructed  and  maintained  by  the  states.  The  Ministry  does  not maintain  the  data  of  road  accidents.  However,  the  State  has reported that Director General of Police, Telangana identifies blackspots (high-accident zones) on all roads and reported that currently there are no black-spots on PMGSY roads in Nalgonda.

(c) to (e): Rural roads under PMGSY are constructed and maintained  as  per the technical specifications  and  geometric design  standards  given  in  the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development's Specifications  for  Rural  Roads,  Rural  Roads  Manual  of  the  Indian Roads Congress (IRC) (IRC-SP:20) and also, where required, the Hill Road Manual (IRC:SP:48) and other relevant IRC Codes & Manuals. The works under the scheme are sanctioned by the Ministry based on the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted by the respective State  Governments  and  implemented  by  the  State  Governments. The  DPRs  take  into  account  the  traffic  volume  in  terms  of  PCU values which is a deciding factor in finalization of the road width. The recommended length in IRC: SP: 20 manuals for Rural Roads is 3.75m  and  IRC  SP  64  1990  manual  recommended  for  Plain  Low Curvature areas the following PCU values:

| PCU value    | Recommended road width   |
|--------------|--------------------------|
| Up to 2,000  | 3.75 meter               |
| Up to 6,000  | 5.5 meter (Intermediate) |
| Up to 15,000 | 7.5 meter (Double Lane)  |

(f): Road safety is a multi-disciplinary activity. With the support of Asian  Development  Bank,  a  Rural  Road  Safety  Manual  has  been prepared by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), a technical arm of this Ministry, and have been circulated to all State Rural Road Development Agencies (SRRDAs) to construct  safer  rural  roads.  The  Manual  covers  guidance  on  safer road  design,  road  safety  audit  checklists,  community  awareness and  education.  Suggestive  training  modules  for  PIUs,  consultants and other stakeholders have also been given.

Besides, adequate provisions have been made in the programme guidelines of PMGSY III, of which States are required to follow  while  preparing  the  Detailed  Project  Reports  (DPRs)  of  the road works to be sanctioned under the scheme. Safety aspects have to be integral part of road design during the preparation of DPR. At the  'transect  walk'  stage  itself,  the  Programme  Implementation Units (PIUs) need to engage with the local communities to identify hazards, local black-spots and possible rectification measures.

Further, the States are required to undertake the design stage audit of all PMGSY roads of more than 5 km length in the light of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. States have also been advised that all rural roads, of more than 5 KM length, on which the work is yet to start or is in progress, be audited for safety. Existing rural roads in operation were also to be audited/inspected for undertaking remedial measures/retrofitting. The Rural Roads constructed under PMGSY-IV shall be in compliance of Manuals relating to Road Signs, Pavement Markings, Crash Barriers, Safety in construction zones and so on.

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