Rs 92,000 cr needed for building 16,700 kms of road

Nearly Rs 92,000 crore investment is required for constructing about 16,700 kms of road under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the government told Lok Sabha today.
Replying to a discussion PMGSY scheme, Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said neither the central government provides funds for land acquisition nor does it come under PMGSY.
Singh said that nearly 16,700 kilometres of roads are to be constructed in the second phase of PMGSY and the required investment for road construction is estimated to be around Rs 92,000 crore.
Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab are ready for the second phase, he said.

According to him, certain factors, such as getting forest clearances in some states, hampers construction of roads.
During the discussion, members, cutting across party lines, raised concerns about the quality of roads that are being constructed under PMGSY and called for more effective implementation of it.

Taking a dig at the government, Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said the present NDA regime "has not done justice to states" with regard to implementing projects.
Various political considerations seem to have come in the way and that is not a "welcome step," he added.
Prahlad Singh Patel (BJP) wondered why there are delays in implementation of projects under PMGSY.

"J&K is a state where money goes but there are no returns. Will money be wasted like this?... How much amount has been spent so far under this scheme? In a state like J&K which is not giving account of a single penny, you don't know if roads are being built or not," he noted.
Jagdambika Pal (BJP) said there has been a decline in quality of roads being constructed and urged the central government to look into the issue.
Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) said state governments should be taken into confidence while taking up road construction under PMGSY.