MP urges Rural Development Minister for Special Relaxation for A&N Islands for Rural Roads under PMGSY

Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 01: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has taken up the matter with Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of Rural Development, Government of India, requesting a special relaxation in population criteria under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and special sanction of 500 km for rural road construction to connect unconnected habitations in the Union Territory.
Mr. Ray in his letter has stated that due to the unique geographical conditions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the existing PMGSY guidelines pose noteworthy challenges in achieving road connectivity. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands comprise 836 islands, of which only 31 are inhabited, with a total land area of approximately 8,249 sq. km. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 380,581, which has since grown, with settlements spread across various Tehsils. Despite this, road connectivity remains grossly inadequate, particularly in rural and isolated settlements.
He also further said unlike mainland rural settlements, most habitations in A&N Islands are isolated farmlands rather than clustered villages. The distance between these settlements often exceeds 2 km, making the current population-based eligibility criterion ineffective. At present, only one habitation in the entire UT qualifies under the 250+ population criterion, leaving a major portion of the rural population without road connectivity. Many of these habitations were settled by the Government in 1965, yet, after nearly six decades, they remain without proper roads. The island terrain, dense forests, and eco-sensitive zones further restrict large-scale infrastructure development, necessitating a lower population threshold for eligibility.
He also further emphases that due to limited capital expenditure grants allocated to the UT Administration by the Government of India, the administration is unable to bear the cost of rural road construction. Panchayati Raj Institutions in A&N Islands have managed to construct only 36 km of rural roads in the last five years due to financial constraints.