The Centre has set an ambitious target of constructing 26,474 kilometres of rural roads during the financial year 2026-27, backed by an allocation of ₹18,907 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and related rural connectivity programmes.
The roadmap was discussed during a high-level review meeting chaired by Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal, who assessed the physical and financial progress of states under PMGSY and the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). The meeting brought together senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of State Rural Roads Development Agencies from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Telangana.
The review focused on accelerating rural road connectivity and ensuring that all eligible habitations receive access to all-weather roads. Emphasising the government’s commitment to last-mile infrastructure development, Kansal directed states to expedite the completion of all remaining unconnected habitations under PMGSY-I and the PM-JANMAN programme.
Particular attention was given to connectivity for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), with states instructed to ensure saturation of road infrastructure in tribal and remote regions. Officials were asked to fast-track the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), address implementation bottlenecks and complete pending projects within stipulated timelines.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas, which aims to improve infrastructure in districts impacted by Maoist insurgency. Stressing the strategic importance of road networks in such regions, the Rural Development Secretary called on states to strengthen coordination with implementing agencies and ensure timely completion of sanctioned projects.
Participating states presented their action plans for FY 2026-27 and assured the Centre that both pending works and annual targets would be completed according to schedule.
Apart from construction targets, the review placed strong emphasis on the quality and long-term sustainability of rural road assets. Kansal underlined that durable infrastructure and effective maintenance systems are critical to ensuring reliable connectivity for rural communities.
States were directed to strengthen field-level inspections, improve quality monitoring mechanisms and maintain strict adherence to construction standards throughout project execution.
Digital governance and transparency in maintenance operations also featured prominently in the discussions. The Ministry urged states to ensure universal adoption of the e-MARG (Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY) platform, a digital system designed to enable real-time monitoring of maintenance activities, track payments and assess performance.
The Rural Development Ministry said wider implementation of the platform would enhance transparency, accountability and operational efficiency in the upkeep of rural road networks across the country.
Concluding the review, the Rural Development Secretary issued state-specific directions to address project delays, expedite land acquisition and forest clearance procedures, ensure compliance with project milestones and strengthen coordination among state governments, the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) and the Ministry of Rural Development.
The states reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating project execution, improving infrastructure quality and extending the benefits of all-weather road connectivity to every eligible habitation.
