Executive Summary:
This document is an answer provided to the Lok Sabha regarding rural connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) in hill states. It details infrastructure projects sanctioned in Manipur, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and explains how these projects are expected to enhance access to education, healthcare, and markets. The document also addresses the use of eco-sensitive practices and the potential boost to trade and commerce in the North Eastern region.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Infrastructure Projects Sanctioned (PMGSY-III):**
* Manipur: 97 roads (783.209 km), 0 bridges
* Mizoram: 17 roads (487.504 km), 7 bridges
* Himachal Pradesh: 299 roads (3,123.117 km), 43 bridges
* Uttarakhand: 212 roads (2,287.948 km), 9 bridges
* **Enhancement of Access:**
* PMGSY-III aims to upgrade existing routes connecting habitations to agricultural markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools, and hospitals.
* Independent evaluations (NITI Aayog, IIMA, World Bank, ILO, BITS Pilani) have shown improved access to education and healthcare, employment generation, and better farm prices.
* Improved educational opportunities, especially for girls, and better access to healthcare, with more childbirths in hospitals.
* Women's increased participation in financial decisions and market accessibility.
* Supports Sustainable Development Goals on poverty alleviation.
* **Eco-Sensitive Practices:**
* Use of local, non-conventional, and green technologies in road construction (Cold Mix Technology, Waste Plastics, FDR, Cell-filled Concrete, Panelled Cement Concrete).
* These technologies reduce depletion of conventional materials and minimize environmental damage.
* Road construction adheres to technical specifications and geometric design standards in Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for Rural Roads, Rural Roads Manual IRC SP: 20: 2002, IRC SP : 72: 2015, Hill Roads Manual IRC SP: 48 and other IRC Codes guidelines.
* **Boost to Trade and Commerce:**
* Improved rural road network strengthens rural economies by facilitating easier transport of goods to markets.
* Enhanced connectivity will foster economic growth, trade, employment opportunities (construction and maintenance), and tourism in the North Eastern Region.
Impact Analysis:
* **Rural Population in Manipur, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand:**
* *Impact:* Improved connectivity to markets, education, and healthcare facilities; better economic opportunities.
* *Action Required:* Utilize improved infrastructure for economic and social development.
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Better access to markets, potentially leading to better prices for their produce.
* *Action Required:* Leverage improved transportation for more efficient selling of goods.
* **Students (especially girls):**
* *Impact:* Enhanced access to higher education.
* *Action Required:* Utilize improved access to continue education beyond elementary school.
* **Healthcare Providers and Patients:**
* *Impact:* Improved access to healthcare facilities, especially for childbirth in hospitals.
* *Action Required:* Healthcare providers should prepare for increased accessibility. Patients should utilize improved access for better healthcare.
* **Construction and Maintenance Workers:**
* *Impact:* Employment opportunities in road construction and maintenance.
* *Action Required:* Participate in construction and maintenance activities related to the projects.
* **Businesses and Traders in the North Eastern Region:**
* *Impact:* Increased trade and commerce opportunities.
* *Action Required:* Capitalize on enhanced connectivity to expand businesses and trade networks.
* **Tourism Sector in the North Eastern Region:**
* *Impact:* Potential for increased tourism due to better connectivity.
* *Action Required:* Develop tourism infrastructure and services to cater to increased tourist flow.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III): A Government of India initiative to improve rural connectivity by upgrading existing rural road networks, through routes, and major rural links.
Manipur: A state in India where infrastructure projects have been sanctioned under PMGSY-III to improve rural connectivity.
Mizoram: A state in India where infrastructure projects have been sanctioned under PMGSY-III to improve rural connectivity.
Himachal Pradesh: A state in India where infrastructure projects have been sanctioned under PMGSY-III to improve rural connectivity.
Uttarakhand: A state in India where infrastructure projects have been sanctioned under PMGSY-III to improve rural connectivity.
NITI Aayog: An Indian government policy think tank that conducted independent evaluation studies on PMGSY.
North Eastern Region: A region in India where enhanced connectivity under PMGSY-III is expected to boost trade, commerce, and interstate movement.
Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs): Agricultural markets that PMGSY-III aims to connect habitations to through the upgradation of existing Through Routes and Major Rural Links.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 427
ANSWERED ON 22/07/2025
RURAL CONNECTIVITY UNDER PMGSY-III IN HILL STATES
427. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:
SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:
SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:
SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:
SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:
SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:
SHRI GODAM NAGESH:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of infrastructure projects recently sanctioned under
Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana-III (PMGSY-III) to improve
rural connectivity in the States of Manipur, Mizoram, Himachal
Pradesh and Uttarakhand;
(b) the manner in which these infrastructure projects expected to
enhance access to education, healthcare and markets in
remote regions;
(c) whether these projects are being implemented with eco-
sensitive practices suited for mountainous regions, thereby
ensuring sustainable development; and
(d) whether the enhanced connectivity under PMGSY-III is likely to
boost trade, commerce and inter-state movement in the North
Eastern region, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): The details of roads and bridges sanctioned under Pradhan
Mantri Gram SadakYojana-III (PMGSY-III) in the States of Manipur,
Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are as below:
Page 1 of 3No. of roads Road length No of bridges
State
sanctioned sanctioned (in Km) sanctioned
Manipur 97 783.209 0
Mizoram 17 487.504 7
Himachal
299 3,123.117 43
Pradesh
Uttarakhand 212 2,287.948 9
(b): PMGSY-III aims to consolidate the existing Rural Road
Network by upgradation of existing Through Routes and Major Rural
Links that connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets
(GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. The upgradation
of existing Through Routes and Major Rural Links is based on
priority of the proposed work in connecting critical facilities like the
rural markets and education & health facilities.
Various independent evaluation studies, conducted by NITI
Aayog, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), World
Bank and International Labour Organization (ILO), Birla Institute of
Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani etc. on PMGSY have concluded
that it has improved access to education and health care facilities,
facilitated employment generation in both farm and non-farm
sectors, helped farmers in getting better farm prices etc. PMGSY
roads have provided better education opportunities to the children
particularly girl child to continue their education beyond the
elementary school level. Health facilities are being accessible to
people. Women have been the major beneficiary, with most of the
child birth taking place in government hospitals and also their
participation in financial decisions has increased and it is reflected
in their market accessibility. This scheme also addresses the
various Sustainable Development Goals on poverty alleviation.
(c): PMGSY has promoted the use of local, non-conventional and
green technologies in rural roads construction. Environment-friendly
green technologies such as Cold Mix Technology, Waste Plastics,
Full Depth Reclamation (FDR), Cell-filled Concrete, Panelled Cement
Concrete etc. are being used in the construction of roads under
PMGSY-III. These technologies not only reduce the depletion of
good quality conventional materials but also minimize the damage
to environment from emission of green house gases and heavy
suspended particles in the air.
Page 2 of 3The standards for construction of roads under PMGSY are
based on as per site conditions. The rural roads under PMGSY-III are
constructed as per technical specifications and geometric design
standards given in Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for
Rural Roads, Rural Roads Manual IRC SP: 20: 2002, IRC SP : 72:
2015 and also where required, the Hill Roads Manual IRC SP: 48 and
other IRC Codes/ guidelines.
(d): Yes. Improved rural road network contributes to strengthening
rural economies by facilitating easier transport of goods to markets.
Enhanced connectivity will foster economic growth & trade,
generate employment opportunities through construction and
maintenance jobs and also facilitate tourism in the North Eastern
Region of the country.
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