New Delhi, June 18: The central government has taken a significant step to enhance rural road connectivity for the fiscal year 2026-27. Under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and other rural connectivity projects, the government aims to construct 26,474 kilometers of rural roads. A budget of ₹18,907 crore has been allocated for this initiative. The goal is to connect remote areas that have been deprived of road access, ensuring all-weather road facilities.
An official statement released on Thursday noted that the Ministry of Rural Development convened a high-level meeting to review the progress of the PMGSY and the Road Connectivity Project for Left-Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLEA). The meeting was chaired by Rohit Kansal, Secretary of the Rural Development Department, and included senior officials from various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
During the meeting, the targets for the fiscal year 2026-27 and the ongoing works in the states were reviewed. Special attention was given to villages and settlements that are yet to be fully connected by roads. The central government instructed states to expedite the completion of connecting all unconnected settlements under the PMGSY and PM-Janman schemes.
Emphasis was also placed on ensuring road access to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). States were directed to accelerate the process of preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), remove obstacles in construction works, and complete pending projects on time.
According to the statement, the meeting also included a detailed review of ongoing road connectivity projects in left-wing extremism-affected areas. The government believes that developing road infrastructure in these regions is crucial for security, development, and administrative reach. States were instructed to ensure timely completion of approved projects by coordinating better with relevant agencies.
States assured the ministry that pending projects and annual targets would be completed within the stipulated time frame.
The statement highlighted that the quality and long-term sustainability of rural road projects were also key topics of discussion. Secretary Rohit Kansal emphasized that ensuring the durability and better maintenance of rural roads is as important as their construction. He urged states to strictly adhere to quality standards, increase field inspections, and strengthen monitoring systems.
The meeting also stressed the extensive use of the e-Marg (Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY) platform. This digital platform facilitates real-time monitoring of rural road maintenance, performance evaluation, and payments. The government believes that its widespread use will enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
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