The ministry has asked states to expedite the completion of all remaining unconnected habitations under the first phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and another scheme under which it provides basic socio-economic facilities to vulnerable tribal groups, it said in a statement.
After a meeting with senior state government officials, rural development secretary Rohit Kansal issued state-specific directions for addressing implementation bottlenecks, fast-tracking land acquisition and forest clearance proposals, ensuring timely compliance with project milestones, according to the statement.
“The states reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating execution, improving infrastructure quality and ensuring that the benefits of all-weather road access reach every eligible habitation across the country,” it added.
The government has budgeted ₹19,000 crore for the PMGSY for this fiscal, up almost 73% from the revised estimate of ₹11,000 crore a year earlier.
A major focus of the review meeting was the quality and long-term sustainability of rural road assets.
The review focused on strict compliance with quality standards and effective maintenance mechanisms, as these are crucial to ensuring durable and reliable rural connectivity. The ministry also asked states to bolster monitoring and ensure robust oversight throughout project execution.