Question : Rural Road Connectivity

(a) the details of number of villages in the country which are not connected with all weather roads till date, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of number of villages which have been connected with roads during the last three years and the total amount spent thereon, State/UT-wise;
(c) the time by which Government aims to connect all villages of the country with roads and the amount likely to be spent on this work;
(d) the details of total length of road in kilometer targeted to be constructed every day by the Government, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra;
(e) the details of total cost of per kilometer construction of road under PMGSY at present and the parameters set/laid down for measurement of length and breadth of the roads under the scheme;
(f) whether the Government proposes to bring down the cost of road construction by using new technology involving waste plastic, if so, the details thereof; and
(g) the details of total amount of funds proposed to be spent on planting trees on road side, provision of road lights, drains etc. under PMGSY?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) to (c): Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide single connectivity by way of an All-Weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations as per Core-Network with a population of 500 persons (as per 2001 Census) and above in plain areas. In respect of ‘Special Category States’ (North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand), the Desert areas, the Tribal (Schedule V) areas and 88 Selected Tribal and Backward districts as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs/Planning Commission, the objective is to connect eligible unconnected habitations as per Core-Network with a population of 250 persons and above (Census 2001). In critical LWE affected blocks (as identified by MHA), additional relaxation has been given to connect habitations with population 100 to 249 persons also.
For accelerated execution of PMGSY in the States, the Ministry of Rural Development in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the State Governments, has formulated an Action Plan to complete the connectivity mandate of the balance eligible habitations under PMGSY-I by March, 2019, before the earlier set target date of 2022.
(d): As per the physical targets of PMGSY for 2016-17, 130 km of road length per day would be constructed. State-wise targets of road length to be constructed during the year 2016-17 are at Annexure I.

(e): The cost of road works under PMGSY is sanctioned based on the specific Detailed Project Report (DPR) of each road prepared by the State Government after thorough investigations of factors like terrain, type of soil, rainfall and traffic following the technical specifications laid down in MORD Book of Specifications, Rural Roads Manual, other guidelines published by Indian Roads Congress and scrutinized by the State Technical Agencies. The average cost of construction/Km varies from State to State due to material cost, labour wages as per State specific Schedule of Rates, cartage of materials, location of site and specific provisions made in the DPRs. The road should be a minimum length of 0.50 Km in plain areas and 1.50 Kms in hilly areas for PMGSY – I. Width of carriageway may be 3.75 m or 3.00 m with roadway width of 7.50 m or 6.00 m depending on projected traffic volume on proposed road, as per IRC guidelines. PMGSY-II permits widening of roads up to 5.50 m carriage way, based on traffic intensity.
(f): IRC has published a document “Guidelines for the use of Waste Plastic in Hot Bituminous Mixes (Dry Process) in Wearing courses. The State Governments have been requested to propose roads by using waste plastic, in addition to various other new technologies and non-conventional materials, as per new technology initiatives guidelines issued by the Ministry, in May 2013.

(g): The Ministry of Rural Development has prepared an action Plan for road side plantation on both sides of the PMGSY roads in convergence with MGNREGS and circulated to the State Governments. The National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) and Indian Road Congress (IRC) have jointly issued detailed technical guidelines (IRC: SP: 103-2014) for road side plantation on PMGSY roads. States have been requested to take follow up action for plantation of trees on the flanks of PMGSY roads in consultation with Gram Panchayats/Zilla Panchayat and MGNREGA functionaries. There is no provision in PMGSY guidelines for lighting of PMGSY roads. However, side drains can be proposed based on case specific requirements in DPRs without any minimum and maximum ceiling in terms of funds.
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