Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
INTRODUCTION: What is PMGSY?
In simple terms:
PMGSY is India’s flagship rural road connectivity programme.
Started in 2000, its aim is to connect every rural habitation with an all-weather road, especially in areas that have remained geographically and economically isolated.
Imagine a village 20 km from the nearest town, with no pucca road. Even a minor rain makes the path unusable — school, hospital, and market all become inaccessible.
PMGSY ensures such isolation ends.
TYPE & PURPOSE
- 📌 Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
→ Centre shares majority of funding with States - 🎯 Purpose: Provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations
PMGSY-IV (Latest Phase) — At a Glance
Feature | Details |
🎯 Target | Construct 62,500 km of roads |
👥 Habitations to be connected | Approx. 25,000 |
📅 Tenure | FY 2024-25 to 2028-29 |
🛣️ Includes | Construction of roads + bridges |
🌐 Planning Tool | Uses PM Gati Shakti Portal for planning, alignment, and project reports |
PHASE-WISE EVOLUTION OF PMGSY
To appreciate PMGSY-IV, we must understand how the scheme evolved:
Phase | Launch Year | Key Focus |
PMGSY-I | 2000 | All-weather roads to unconnected habitations: • 500+ population in plains • 250+ in NE/hilly/tribal/desert areas |
PMGSY-II | 2013 | Upgradation of 50,000 km of existing rural roads |
RCPLWEA | 2016 | Road development in 44 districts across 9 LWE-affected states |
PMGSY-III | 2019–2025 | Consolidation of 1.25 lakh km of rural roads; connect villages to GrAMs (Gramin Agricultural Markets) and essential services |
PMGSY-IV | 2024–2029 | All-weather roads to 25,000 new habitations with revised criteria: • 500+ (Plains) • 250+ (NE & Hill States) • 100+ (LWE districts) |
(RCPLWEA: Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas)
HABITATION CRITERIA (PMGSY-IV Specific)
The eligibility for road connectivity under PMGSY-IV depends on population size:
Area Type | Minimum Population |
Plains | 500+ |
NE & Hilly States | 250+ |
LWE-affected districts | 100+ |
This ensures that even small, strategically vulnerable villages get included.
EXPECTED BENEFITS
PMGSY-IV is not just about roads — it’s a catalyst for rural transformation.
🟢 Economic & Social Upliftment:
- Easier access to education, healthcare, markets
- Boosts rural employment, mobility, and access to schemes
🟢 Strategic Importance:
- Improves connectivity in LWE-affected and border areas
- Strengthens internal security and integration
GREEN TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
PMGSY-IV is eco-conscious. It adopts innovative technologies to build cost-effective and sustainable rural roads.
Technology | Application |
♻️ Waste Plastics | Mixed with bitumen for durability |
🧊 Cold Mix Asphalt Technology | Produces asphalt without heating – saves fuel |
🧱 Cell-filled Concrete | Plastic grids filled with concrete – strengthens weak roads |
🧵 Coir Geo-textiles | Used for slope stabilization & subgrade improvement |
🧪 Nano Technology (e.g. Zydex) | Strengthens surface layers (sealcoats, carpets) |
🧱 Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) | Restores damaged roads by reusing old materials (not for drainage failure cases) |
⚙️ Stabilization using Lime/Cement | Improves soil strength |
🧰 Use of Fly Ash, Steel Slag, Waste Plastic | Promotes circular economy in construction |
PM GATI SHAKTI PORTAL INTEGRATION
PMGSY-IV is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, ensuring:
- 📍 Optimal route alignment
- 🔗 Integrated planning with railways, logistics hubs, markets, etc.
- 📊 Faster approvals via centralized digital platform
🔚 Final Thought
“A road is not just a stretch of tar. It is the bridge between isolation and opportunity. PMGSY, especially in its fourth phase, doesn’t just lay roads — it connects dignity, development, and democracy to the remotest corners of India.”
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