The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) for the period 2024-25 to 2028-29 with a target to enhance rural connectivity by constructing 62,500 km of new all-weather roads.
Coverage:
The initiative will connect 25,000 unconnected habitations with a population of more than 500 in plain areas, more than 250 in Northeastern and Hilly States and more than 100 in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts.
It is expected that the new roads will boost socio-economic development in remote rural areas and improve access to education, health, markets and development centres. The scheme is designed to generate 40 crore person-days of employment.
PMGSY is a central government scheme launched in the year 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations.
The scheme was originally a 100% centrally sponsored initiative, but from the financial year 2015-16, its funding began to be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the central and state governments.
Under various phases of PMGSY, about 8,00,000 km of rural roads have been constructed and 1,80,000 habitations have been connected.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December 2000 to provide all weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations.
Eligibility:
Unincorporated habitations of specified population size (500 + in plain areas and 250 + in Northeastern States, Himalayan States, Desert and Tribal areas as per 2001 Census) in the core network to improve the socio-economic status of the rural population.
An unconnected settlement is one whose population of the prescribed size is located at a distance of at least 500 m or more (1.5 km path distance in case of hills) from a perennial road.
Core Network:
It is the minimum network of roads required to provide basic access to essential social and economic services to all eligible habitations in selected areas through at least single all-weather road connectivity.
Financing Pattern:
In respect of projects sanctioned under the scheme in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, the Central Government bears 90% of the project cost while for other States, the Central Government bears 60% of the cost.
Construction Standards:
Rural roads constructed under PMGSY will be as per the provision of Indian Roads Congress (IRC), which has been the apex body of highway engineers since the year 1934.
PMGSY-Phase-I:
PMGSY-Phase-I was launched in the year 2000 as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
Under the scheme, a target was set to provide road connectivity to 1,35,436 habitations and upgradation of 3.68 lakh km of existing rural roads to ensure complete farm-to-market connectivity.
PMGSY-Phase-II:
Subsequently, Government of India launched PMGSY-II in 2013 for upgradation of 50,000 km of existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency.
While the ongoing PMGSY-I continued, under PMGSY Phase-II, roads already constructed for village connectivity were to be upgraded to augment rural infrastructure.
The cost was shared between the Centre and the States / UTs.
The Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPL WEA) was launched in 2016 for construction of rural roads in LWE affected areas.
PMGSY – Phase-III:
Phase-III was approved by the Cabinet during July 2019.
It prioritizes features, such as:
Rural Agricultural Markets (GRAMs): Grams are retail agricultural markets near farm gates that promote and serve more efficient transactions of farmers’ produce.
Higher Secondary School and Hospital.
Under the PMGSY-III scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 km of road length across states. The duration of the scheme is from 2019-20 to 2024-25.
Progress of the scheme:
Out of 8.25 lakh km sanctioned, more than 7 lakh km roads have already been completed with an investment of Rs. 2,70,000 crores. Additionally, a total of 1,61,561 unconnected habitations have been provided perennial road connectivity under PMGSY.
