Parliament Question: Road Networks in Rural Assam

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2702 ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025 ROAD NETWORKS IN RURAL ASSAM 2702. Md. RakibulHussain: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether any specific initiatives are being undertaken to improve rural road networks, electricity supply and water access in the villages of Assam; (b) the details of the measures taken by the Government to ensure the timely implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) and other infrastructure schemes in the remote and inaccessible areas of Assam; (c) whether there are any targeted programs to enhance rural connectivity for the tea gardens and tribal regions of Assam; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN) (a) & (b): Rural Roads is a State subject. Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December, 2000, as a one-time special intervention to assist the States in providing all- weather road connectivity to the eligible unconnected habitations as per core-network with a population of 500+ persons in plain areas, 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, the Desert areas (as identified in Desert Development programme), Tribal (Schedule-V) areas and Selected Tribal and Backward Districts (as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs and erstwhile Planning Commission), as per census 2001. Subsequently, new interventions/ verticals, namely PMGSY-II, Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Areas (RCPLWEA) and PMGSY-III were added under the ambit of PMGSY Page 1 of 4for upgradation of 50,000 Km rural roads; construction of strategically important roads in LWE Areas; and for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals; respectively. Further, the Government has launched PMGSY-IV to provide all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 unconnected habitations, which have become eligible due to their population increase. As per population norms of the programme, unconnected habitations having 500+ population in plain areas; 250+ in North-Eastern and Hilly States/UTs, Special Category Areas (Schedule V Tribal Areas, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert Areas); and 100+ in LWE- affected areas (as notified by MHA), as per Census 2011, are eligible for coverage under PMGSY-IV. Since the inception of PMGSY, 9,269 road works of 32,911 Km and 1,466 bridge works have been sanctioned in Assam State, out of which, construction of 9,124 road works of 32,034 Km and 1,423 bridges (more than 97%) has been completed with an expenditure of Rs. 22,933.67 crore, including State share. As regards PMGSY-IV, the preliminary identification of eligible habitations under PMGSY-IV has been completed, and the Ministry is working in close coordination with the State Government to finalise and sanction proposals accordingly. As per programme guidelines, the timeline for completion of road work is 12 working months from the date of issue of the work order. However, where a package comprises more than one roadwork, the total time given for completion of the package is 18 calendar months. Similarly, a period of 21-24 months has been allowed for completion of bridge works exceeding 25 meters in length, depending on site conditions. States have been instructed to adhere to the timelines for completion of sanctioned projects. Further, the Ministry conducts regular monitoring and review meetings with States/UTs to track the progress of the projects and resolve the pending issues. The Ministry coordinates with other stakeholders, viz. Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Nodal Departments of the State Governments, State Forest Departments and executing agencies to resolve the bottlenecks in project execution and to ensure timely implementation of the projects. Page 2 of 4Electricity is a concurrent subject and therefore, supply and distribution of electricity to the consumers is within the purview of the respective State Government/ Power Utility. However, the Government of India has supplemented the efforts of the States earlier under the schemes like DeenDayalUpadhyaya Gram JyotiYojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan MantriSahajBijliHarGharYojana (SAUBHAGYA), etc., and presently under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to help improve the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers. Under the scheme, distribution infrastructure works amounting to Rs. 3,394.65 crore and smart metering works amounting to Rs. 4,049.54 crore have been sanctioned for the state of Assam. Furthermore, under RDSS, grid electrification of left-out households has been taken up. To date, works amounting to Rs. 785.55 crore have been sanctioned for the electrification of 1,27,111 households in the state of Assam. The Government of India has been implementing the JalJeevan Mission (JJM) since August 2019, in partnership with States, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household of the Country. Drinking water is a State subject and hence, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under JalJeevan Mission, lies with the State / UT Government. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance. Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) is being implemented w.e.f. 1st April, 2016, to construct 2.95 crore houses by assisting eligible rural households with basic amenities. The government has approved an additional 2 crore rural houses under PMAY-G to be constructed during FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29 to meet the arising housing requirements. As of the date, the target of 29,87,868 houses has been allocated to the state of Assam, with which its Permanent Wait List (both SECC and Awaas+2018 list) is now saturated. Of the total allocated target, 28,80,057 houses have been sanctioned, and 20,74,118 houses have been completed under PMAY-G. PMAY-G focuses on the provision of houses along with the basic needs of households through convergence with other Government Schemes. The Ministry aims at saturation of benefits provided through convergence with schemes to all PMAY-G beneficiaries. In the state of Assam, 21,25,950 houses have been provided with electricity connection, and 16,86,943 houses have Page 3 of 4been provided with water connection under convergence with other schemes. (c) & (d): PMGSY is designed as an area development programme, with the ‘habitation’ as the unit, and aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible habitations, thereby ensuring access for the entire population, those living in and around farm and non- farm production centres. To ensure inclusive and equitable access in backwards and marginalised areas, PMGSY-IV is being implemented in convergence with two flagship inclusion-focused initiatives, namely: (i) DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram UtkarshAbhiyan (DA-JGUA): Habitations with 500+ population and 50% or more ST population, or habitations with 50+ ST population in the 250+ category in Aspirational Districts, as per Census 2011, are given priority under PMGSY IV; (ii) Pradhan MantriAnusuchitJaatiAbhyudayYojana (PM-AJAY): Habitations with 500+ population and 40% or more SC population are given priority under PMGSY-IV. ***** Page 4 of 4