Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4255 regarding adherence to Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) guidelines. It addresses concerns about guideline violations in Kerala, priority list allocation, monitoring mechanisms, and environmental compliance. The timeline for PMGSY IV implementation extends until March 2029.
Key Points / Main Content:
PMGSY IV Guidelines:
* District Rural Roads Plan (DRRP) should be updated, and a draft Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) generated, considering suggestions from Members of Parliament (MPs).
* The CNCPL is presented to the District Panchayat, and copies are provided to MPs and MLAs for their suggestions, which the District Panchayat must fully consider.
* Project Implementation Units (PIUs) forward proposals to the State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA), including details of MP proposals in Proforma MP1, action taken in Proforma MPII, and justifications for any non-inclusion.
* SRRDA vets proposals for guideline compliance and presents them to the State-level Standing Committee (SLSC) with MP1 and MPII statements.
* SLSC scrutinizes proposals for guideline compliance and ensures full consideration of MP proposals, providing justifications for any non-inclusion.
* Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are prepared by PIUs after SLSC scrutiny.
Monitoring and Compliance:
* National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) scrutinizes DPRs, which are then reviewed by an Empowered Committee.
* States have been requested to ensure SLSC examines compliance with program guidelines, including consultation with MPs.
* States are required to upload MPI and MPII formats on OMMAS, indicating proposals received from MPs and the action taken.
Foundation Laying Ceremonies:
* Elected representatives should be invited to foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies, with the foundation stone laid and the road inaugurated by the Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha).
* The State of Kerala will conduct inaugurations for roads nearing completion in the Kozhikode Lok Sabha Constituency.
Environmental Compliance:
* NOC from the Environmental Department is usually not required for PMGSY roads in rural areas.
* PMGSY encourages the use of green technologies.
* NOC from the Forest Department is required if the road alignment traverses forest land or protected areas.
Impact Analysis:
Stakeholder: Members of Parliament (MPs)
* Impact: Their suggestions for road prioritization must be considered during CNCPL creation, and reasons must be provided if their proposals are not included. They should be invited to foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies.
* Action Required: Provide suggestions for road prioritization to the District Panchayat and participate in foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies.
Stakeholder: State Government Authorities (Kerala)
* Impact: Required to follow PMGSY IV guidelines in preparing and submitting proposals.
* Action Required: Adhere to PMGSY guidelines for CNCPL preparation, ensure full consideration of MP proposals, and conduct foundation laying ceremonies with appropriate invitations.
Stakeholder: Project Implementation Units (PIUs)
* Impact: Responsible for preparing and forwarding proposals, including MP proposal details, and creating Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
* Action Required: Prepare proposals according to guidelines, include MP proposal details, and develop DPRs after SLSC scrutiny.
Stakeholder: State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA)
* Impact: Responsible for vetting proposals for compliance and presenting them to the SLSC.
* Action Required: Vetting proposals and presenting them to the SLSC
Stakeholder: District Panchayat
* Impact: Responsible for considering the CNCPL and the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament MLAs
* Action Required: CNCPL is placed before the District Panchayat and give consideration to the suggestions of the MPs and MLAs.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): A centrally sponsored scheme in India to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas.
PMGSY IV: The fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana program, with specific guidelines for implementation and a timeline until March 2029.
Kerala: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of alleged guideline violations related to road allocation under the PMGSY-IV scheme.
Members of Parliament (MPs): Elected officials whose suggestions regarding road project prioritization are to be considered under PMGSY guidelines.
Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs): Elected officials whose suggestions regarding road project prioritization are also to be considered under PMGSY guidelines.
District Panchayat: A local government body responsible for approving the Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) under the PMGSY-IV guidelines.
State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA): The state-level agency responsible for vetting proposals and ensuring they are in accordance with PMGSY guidelines before forwarding them to the State Level Standing Committee (SLSC).
Kozhikode LokSabha Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Kerala, where roads under construction in PMGSYIII have allegedly not had formal foundation laying ceremonies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4255
ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025
NON-ADHERENCE OF PMGSY GUIDELINES
4255. Shri M K Raghavan:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry is aware of any violation of guidelines in
Kerala, since State Government authorities have instructed to
allocate only 60% of sanctioned roads based on the priority list
of MPs and the remaining 40% from MLAs for PMGSY-IV;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the guidelines of PMGSY-IV mandates to receive
priority list from MLAs other than their suggestions, if so the
details thereof;
(d) whether the Ministry has any mechanism to monitor whether
the State Government agencies are adhering to the guidelines
of the PMGSY during the implementation, if so, the details
thereof;
(e) whether the Ministry is aware that roads under construction in
PMGSY-III in Kozhikode LokSabha Constituency have not had
any formal foundation laying ceremonies conducted by the
State Government authorities;
(f) if so, the steps taken by the Ministry regarding this violation of
the guidelines; and
(g) the manner in which environmental compliance being
monitored during the project execution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a) to (c): Detailed guidelines have been issued for implementation
of Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) IV. As per the
guidelines, the District Rural Roads Plan (DRRP) is to be updated
and the draft Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL)
of the unconnected habitations is to be generated keeping in
Page 1 of 3view the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament.
As per para 5.5 of the programme guidelines of PMGSY IV, after the
CNCPL is prepared and verified it shall be placed before the District
Panchayat. The Hon'ble Member of Parliament/ MLAs shall be given
a copy of the CNCPL and their suggestions and the suggestions of
lower level Panchayati Raj institutions shall be given fullest
consideration by the District Panchayat while according its
approval.
Further as per para 5.6 of programme guidelines of PMGSY I, after
approval of CNCPL by the District Panchayat, the proposals would
be forwarded by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to the State
Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA). The PIU will, at that
time prepare the details of proposals forwarded by the Hon'ble
Members of Parliament in Proforma MP-1 with their consent, and
action taken thereon in Proforma MP-II indicating the prioritization
and other details, and send it along with the proposals. In all cases
where the proposal of a Hon'ble Member of Parliament has not been
included, cogent reasons shall be given based on the reasons given
by the District Panchayat in MP-II format itself.
Also, as per para 5.7 of programme guidelines the SRRDA shall
vet the proposals to ensure that they are in accordance with the
Guidelines and shall place them before the State-level Standing
Committee (SLSC) along with the MP-1 and MP-II Statements.
As per 5.8 of programme guidelines, the SLSC would scrutinize
the proposals to see that they are in accordance with the guidelines
and that the proposals of the Hon'ble Members of Parliament have
been given full consideration. In all cases where the proposals of
Hon'ble Members of Parliament have not been included, cogent
reasons shall be given to them and these shall be recorded in the
proceedings of the SLSC. After scrutiny by the SLSC, the PIUs will
prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for each proposed road
work.
No proposal under PMGSY IV has been submitted by the State
Government of Kerala to the Ministry so far. The proposals are
submitted in feasible batches by the States to the Central
Government for according sanction. The timeline for implementation
of PMGSY IV is till March, 2029.
(d): Yes, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared by the
State are duly scrutinized by National Rural Infrastructure
Development Agency (NRIDA) which are then placed before
Empowered Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Rural
Development to review the institutional preparedness, Technical
Page 2 of 3and Quality issues as per PMGSY Programme Guidelines. The
Ministry has also requested the States that the SLSC should
examine compliance with programme guidelines such as
consultation with Hon'ble Members of Parliament. The States are
also required to upload on OMMAS the MP-I and MP-II formats
indicating the proposals received from the Hon'ble Members of
Parliament and the action taken thereupon, respectively.
(e) & (f): As per circular dated 28.07.2011 issued by Ministry, all
elected representatives associated with the programme should be
duly invited to the foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies.
Also, it states that the foundation stone be laid and the road should
also be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament
(LokSabha) with the function presided over by the local Minister or
other dignitary as per State Protocol. This advisory has been
reiterated to the States on 3rd February, 2022.
In Kozhikode District, out of total Road length of 392 Km
sanctioned under various interventions of PMGSY, 342 Km has
already completed. The Ministry does not maintain constituency
wise project details. The State of Kerala has informed that since
most of the works in Kozhikode LokSabha Constituency are nearing
completion, steps will be taken for conducting the inauguration of
the roads.
(g): As PMGSY roads are generally constructed in rural areas,
there is usually no requirement to obtain NOC from Environmental
Department. The PMGSY encourages States to use new/ green
technologies such as cold-mix, waste plastic in surface course, Full-
Depth Reclamation, etc. which conserve use of raw materials/
natural resources. However, in cases where the proposed road
alignment traverses forest land/ protected areas, the necessary
NOC is obtained from the Forest Department as per law.
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