New Delhi, June 18: The Central Government has earmarked ₹18,907 crore for the construction of 26,474 kilometres of rural roads during the financial year 2026-27 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and other rural connectivity programmes, officials said on Wednesday.
The allocation and implementation targets were reviewed during a high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Rural Development to assess state-wise physical and financial progress under PMGSY and the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).
The meeting was chaired by Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal and attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of State Rural Roads Development Agencies from several states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir.
During the review, the Secretary examined state-wise targets and implementation status for 2026-27, with particular emphasis on achieving saturation of rural road connectivity in areas that remain unconnected.
States were directed to expedite the completion of all remaining habitations yet to be connected under PMGSY-I and the PM-JANMAN programme, especially those inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Officials were asked to accelerate the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), address implementation bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of pending works.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of projects under the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas. Highlighting the strategic importance of road infrastructure in such districts, the Secretary instructed concerned states to maintain close coordination with implementing agencies and adhere to project timelines.
Participating states presented their action plans and assured the Ministry that pending projects and annual targets would be completed within the prescribed time frame.
A major focus of the meeting was the quality and sustainability of rural road infrastructure. The Secretary stressed the need for strict adherence to prescribed quality standards and effective maintenance systems to ensure long-term usability of rural roads.
States were advised to strengthen field inspections, improve quality monitoring mechanisms and maintain close supervision throughout project execution.
The review also emphasized universal adoption of the e-MARG (Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY) platform, which enables real-time monitoring of maintenance activities, performance assessment and payment tracking. Officials said wider implementation of the platform is expected to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the maintenance of rural road assets.
Concluding the meeting, the Secretary issued state-specific directions to address implementation challenges, expedite land acquisition and forest clearance proposals, ensure compliance with project milestones and strengthen coordination among state governments, the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) and the Ministry of Rural Development.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at expanding all-weather road connectivity and ensuring that the benefits of rural infrastructure development reach every eligible habitation across the country. (PIB)
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