Font size:
Print
Fourth Phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Context:
The government plans to launch the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) to connect 50,000 habitations with all-weather roads.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
- Launch: 2000
- Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
- It began as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
- In 2015-16, funding pattern changed to a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and States, and a 90:10 ratio for North Eastern and Himalayan States.
- Rural roads built under the PMGSY will comply with the standards set by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
- Established in 1934, it is the apex Body for highway engineers in India.
- Till now the scheme had four verticals:
- PMGSY I (2000): Launched as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to eligible unconnected habitations of designated population as per Census 2001.
- PMGSY II (2013): Launched for upgradation of selected Through Routes and Major Rural Links with a target to upgrade 50,000 Km in various States and Union Territories.
- Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Areas (RCPLWEA) (2016): Launched for construction/upgradation of strategically important roads to improve the road connectivity in 44 worst affected LWE districts and some adjoining districts.
- PMGSY III. (2019): For consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations, inter-alia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
- The latest addition to this is Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV
- Objective: Connect 50,000 habitations with populations above 250 in plain areas and 100 in special category states with all-weather roads.
- Financial Allocation: Rs 1.9 lakh crore total cost, with Rs 1.3 lakh crore from the central government and Rs 60,000 crore from states.
- Focus Areas: Improved connectivity to villages within 50 km of national highways and enhanced access to rural growth centres in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
- The Economic Survey 2022-23 notes that independent impact studies on PMGSY show positive effects on agriculture, health, education, urbanisation, and employment generation.
- World Bank evaluation found PMGSY roads positively impacted rural India:
-
- Children gained 0.7 more years of schooling
- Home deliveries decreased by 30%
- Child vaccination rates increased by 15 percentage points.
