Centre Targets Construction of Over 26,000 km of Rural Roads in FY 2026–27

The Government of India has set an ambitious target to construct 26,474 kilometres of rural roads during the financial year 2026–27, with an allocation of ₹18,907 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and other rural connectivity programmes.

The target was reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, to assess state-wise progress under PMGSY and the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).

Senior officials from several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Telangana, participated in the review to discuss implementation progress and future action plans.

Focus on Universal Rural Connectivity

During the meeting, the Ministry emphasized the need to achieve complete rural road connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas. States were directed to expedite the completion of all remaining unconnected habitations under PMGSY-I and the PM-JANMAN initiative, with special attention to habitations inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

The Secretary urged state governments to accelerate the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), address execution-related challenges and ensure timely completion of pending projects. The objective is to provide all-weather road access to every eligible rural habitation and strengthen last-mile connectivity across the country.

The progress of the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas was also reviewed. Recognizing the strategic importance of road infrastructure in these districts, the Ministry directed concerned states to enhance coordination with implementing agencies and ensure timely execution of sanctioned works.

Participating states presented their action plans and assured the Ministry that annual targets and pending projects would be completed within the stipulated timelines.

Emphasis on Quality and Digital Monitoring

The review meeting also focused on improving the quality and long-term sustainability of rural road infrastructure. The Secretary stressed the importance of strict compliance with quality standards and effective maintenance mechanisms to ensure durable and reliable road networks.

States were instructed to strengthen field inspections, improve quality monitoring systems and maintain close oversight during project implementation.

A key agenda item was the universal adoption of the e-MARG (Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY) platform. The digital platform enables real-time monitoring of road maintenance activities, performance evaluation and payment tracking, thereby improving transparency, accountability and operational efficiency.

Road Ahead

To accelerate implementation, the Ministry issued state-specific directions to address bottlenecks, fast-track land acquisition and forest clearance processes, 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 participating states reaffirmed their commitment to improving execution, enhancing infrastructure quality and ensuring that the benefits of all-weather road connectivity reach every eligible rural habitation across India.