Executive Summary:
This document outlines the guidelines for selecting roads under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). It details the process for consulting public representatives, particularly Members of Parliament, and incorporating their input in road project proposals. The guidelines emphasize considering local development priorities while maintaining technical standards. The implementation timeline for PMGSY IV extends until March 2029.
Key Points / Main Content:
Consultation and Proposal Process:
* District Rural Roads Plan (DRRP) must be updated, and a Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) generated, considering suggestions from Members of Parliament.
* The CNCPL is presented to the District Panchayat, and copies are provided to Members of Parliament and MLAs for suggestions.
* The District Panchayat gives full consideration to suggestions from public representatives and lower-level Panchayati Raj institutions when approving the CNCPL.
* If a Member of Parliament's proposal is not included, cogent reasons must be provided.
* Project Implementation Units (PIUs) must prepare details of proposals forwarded by Members of Parliament, including prioritization and action taken.
* The State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA) vets proposals and presents them to the State-Level Standing Committee (SLSC) along with statements regarding Members of Parliament's proposals.
Scrutiny and Approval:
* The SLSC scrutinizes proposals to ensure they align with guidelines and that proposals from Members of Parliament have been fully considered.
* Reasons for not including a Member of Parliament's proposal must be recorded in the SLSC proceedings.
* Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are prepared by PIUs after SLSC scrutiny.
Community Consultation and Technical Standards:
* Before DPR preparation, PIUs must consult with the local community through the Gram Panchayat to determine the best road alignment and address land availability.
* Road construction must adhere to technical specifications and design standards outlined in relevant Ministry of Rural Development and Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines.
PMGSY IV Status:
* As of the document's date, the State Government of Kerala has not submitted any PMGSY IV proposals.
Impact Analysis:
Members of Parliament:
* Impact: Their suggestions for road selection must be considered, and they must receive reasons if their proposals are not included.
* Action Required: Provide suggestions during the DRRP update and CNCPL generation, and follow up on the inclusion of their proposals.
District Panchayats:
* Impact: They are responsible for approving the CNCPL and considering suggestions from public representatives.
* Action Required: Review and approve the CNCPL, giving full consideration to suggestions from public representatives and lower-level Panchayati Raj institutions and Provide reasons for the non-inclusion of certain proposals.
Project Implementation Units (PIUs):
* Impact: They are responsible for preparing project proposals, consulting with local communities, and adhering to technical standards.
* Action Required: Update the DRRP, Generate the CNCPL, Prepare DPRs, conduct community consultations, and ensure compliance with technical guidelines.
State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA):
* Impact: Responsible for vetting proposals and presenting them to the SLSC.
* Action Required: Vet proposals to ensure compliance and present them to SLSC.
State-Level Standing Committees (SLSC):
* Impact: They scrutinize proposals to ensure they align with guidelines and consider input from public representatives.
* Action Required: Scrutinize proposals, ensure compliance, and record reasons for not including certain proposals.
Local Communities:
* Impact: They are consulted to determine the most suitable road alignment and address land availability issues.
* Action Required: Participate in consultations and provide input on road alignment and land availability.
State Government of Kerala:
* Impact: Responsible for submitting PMGSY IV proposals to the Central Government.
* Action Required: Prepare and submit PMGSY IV proposals to the Central Government for sanction by March 2029.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): A rural road development program in India, aimed at providing all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations.
Kerala: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of road selection under the PMGSY program.
District Rural Roads Plan (DRRP): A plan that is updated as per the guidelines for implementation of PMGSY IV. The draft Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) of the unconnected habitations is to be generated keeping in view interalia the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament.
Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL): A list of unconnected habitations, generated while keeping in view the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament, and placed before the District Panchayat as per PMGSY IV guidelines.
District Panchayat: Local government body at the district level involved in the approval process of the Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) under PMGSY.
State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA): A state-level agency responsible for vetting proposals under PMGSY to ensure they are in accordance with the guidelines.
State-Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC): A committee that scrutinizes proposals under PMGSY to ensure they align with guidelines and that the proposals of Members of Parliament have been given full consideration.
Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for Rural Roads: Technical specifications and geometric design standards used for the construction of road works under PMGSY.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1467
ANSWERED ON 29/07/2025
SELECTION OF ROADS UNDER PMGSY
1467. Shri K Sudhakaran:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the specific process adopted for consulting public
representatives in Kerala during the selection of roads under
various phases of the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana
(PMGSY) and the manner in which their inputs were
incorporated in the final proposals;
(b) whether the Government is aware that the final proposals for
PMGSY projects submitted by the State Government of Kerala
are alleged to be politically selective and that public
representatives belonging to parties other than the ruling party
in the State are often excluded from the consultation and
planning process;
(c) the steps taken to ensure that local development priorities
identified by public representatives are adequately reflected,
while maintaining technical scrutiny and standards enforced
by State Technical Agencies (STAs) and State-Level
Sanctioning Committees (SLSCs); and
(d) whether the Government proposes to enhance the formal role
of public representatives under PMGSY-IV, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a) & (b): 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 view
interalia the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of
Page 1 of 3Parliament. 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-11 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 implemention
of PMGSY IV is till March, 2029.
(c) & (d): As per PMGSY-IV guidelines while commencing with the
preparation of the DPR, the PIU will hold a consultation with the
local community through the mechanism of the Gram Panchayat in
order to determine the most suitable alignment, sort out issues of
land availability (including forest land) especially due to road
Page 2 of 3widening / minor change in alignment etc., proposed tree plantation,
moderate any adverse social and environmental impact and elicit
necessary community participation in the programme. For this
purpose, the PIU will organise a formal 'Transect Walk'.
Moreover, the construction of road works under PMGSY are as
per the technical specifications and geometric design standards
given in the Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for Rural
Roads, Rural Roads Manual of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) (IRC:
SP:20),IRC:SP:72 and also, where required, the Hill Road Manual
(IRC: SP:48) and other IRC Codes/ Guidelines.
The role of Hon’ble Members of Parliament/ public
representatives, State Technical Agencies (STAs) and State-Level
Standing Committees (SLSCs) are already defined in PMGSY-IV
guidelines issued during December, 2024. Advisories have been
issued to the States/ UTs to ensure that the guidelines are followed
in letter and spirit while submitting PMGSY IV proposals to the
Central Government for sanction.
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