Question : UPGRADATION OF RURAL ROADS

(a) whether the Government intend to approve any roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 2012-13 or to provide connectivity to remote areas and habitations having population less than 250;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has undertaken upgradation of roads under PMGSY;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Union Government has received any proposals for upgradation of roads under PMGSY from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken on the proposals?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)

(a) & (b): Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) envisages connecting all eligible unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in plain areas and 250 persons and above in Hill States, Tribal (Schedule V) areas, the Desert Areas (as identified in Desert Development Programme) and in the Selected Tribal and Backward Districts under Integrated Action Plan as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs/Planning Commission.

(c) to (f): PMGSY guidelines permits the up gradation (to prescribed standards) of the existing roads in those districts where all the eligible habitations of the designated population size, as prescribed in the guidelines, have been provided all-weather road connectivity. As per advisory issued on 12th June, 2009, the proposals of only following categories were being considered:

i) Residual new connectivity coverage envisaged under Phase-I of Bharat Nirman.

ii) Projects to be taken up with the assistance of World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

iii) New habitations connectivity in the identified Left Wing Extremist districts.

iv) Special road connectivity packages announced for the border areas.

The above advisory was relaxed vide circular no. 02/2012 dated 15th February, 2012 and proposals to connect habitations less than 1,000 persons are being considered subject to fulfillment of conditions mentioned in the circular. Further, vide Ministry`s circular no. 3/2012 dated 19th July, 2012, it has been decided to consider proposals of upgradation in respect of States who have awarded at least 80% of the new connectivity road works for execution to connect the eligible unconnected habitations in the State and have completed all works awarded more than two years earlier.