Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta urged the Central Government to relax the criteria for construction of all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna-Phase IV, in so far as coastal and Malnad districts of Karnataka are concerned.
Raising the issue under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha on August 6, Capt. Chowta flagged the implementation challenges of PMGSY-IV with respect to the realities of ecologically sensitive and topographically complex regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, parts of Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Kodagu districts in Karnataka.
Acknowledging the transformative impact of PMGSY under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Capt. Chowta praised the substantial gains in rural connectivity achieved through Phases I, II, and III of the scheme. However, he highlighted that Phase IV guidelines do not adequately account for the ground realities of coastal and Malnad districts.
What are these ground realities
The MP pointed out that while many habitations appear ‘connected’ in the Management Information System (MIS), ground verification in hilly and forested areas shows that several remote hamlets still lack reliable and all-weather motorable access. He pointed out that these districts have been incorrectly classified as ‘plain areas’ under PMGSY-IV, which affects eligibility, funding and design norms.
