New Delhi: To ensure real-time monitoring of the construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the government is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and has introduced geosatellite imaging.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a recent review of his pet scheme, emphasised on ensuring that the actual work was being done on the ground.

While making rural roads, the government is using geosatellite imaging, while UAVs are being used for the construction of highways. Under the PMGSY, stretches in villages and hamlets are converted into pucca roads. The PM’s main focus is on connecting maximum rural households with pucca roads.

During the recent meeting, it is learnt, Mr Modi expressed satisfaction that there was 52 per cent jump in the number of households connected with rural roads during 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16.

Highly placed sources confirm that it was on the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that these modern technologies were introduced to see that the rural roads are being constructed as per the Centre’s guidelines.

During the meeting, attended by bureaucrats and Niti Aayog officials, Mr Modi was apprised there has been 30 per cent jump in the construction of rural roads, apart from the increase in rural households connectivity.

In 2015-16, 36,400km rural roads were constructed, while in 2016-17, 47,400km roads were constructed, an increase of 30 per cent. During FY17, over 11,641 rural habitats were connected with rural roads, whereas 7,658 households had been connected in 2015-16.

It is a significant — 52 per cent — increase in connectivity of rural households over one year. Besides, the PM was informed that over 4,000 km of rural roads had been constructed using green technology in FY17, sources said.

While presenting the Union Budget for 2017-18, finance minister Arun Jaitley had exuded confidence that the construction of roads under the PMGSY has increased to 133km per day.

He said the Centre will connect 65,000 eligible habitations by constructing 2.23 lakh km of roads in rural areas by 2019.