20-Dec-2022: PMGSY in Backward and Tribal Dominated Areas

Rural Roads is a State subject. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-I) was launched as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Himalayan Union Territories, certain other specified areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.

The mandate of PMGSY was subsequently widened to include new intervention. PMGSY-II was launched in the year 2013, with a target to upgrade 50,000 Kms of the existing rural road network. Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was launched in the year 2016 for construction/ upgradation of strategically important roads chosen in the 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts in the 9 States. PMGSY-III was launched in the year 2019 for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals among the others.

All the projects under PMGSY-I & II have already been sanctioned to the States/UTs. Under RCPLWEA, all the works have been sanctioned except 4 bridges of Maharashtra. Under PMGSY-III, against allocated target of 1,25,000 Km, the Ministry has so far sanctioned 91,371 Km.

13-Dec-2022: Gramin Agricultural Markets under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana -III

The consolidation/upgradation of rural road network would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from GrAMs, Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Various independent impact evaluation studies were carried out on PMGSY roads. These studies have concluded that the scheme has had a positive impact on agriculture, health, education, urbanization and employment generation, etc. The construction/ upgradation of PMGSY roads has increased the share of crops transported to markets for sale. Farmers selling food grains traveled farther after the PMGSY roads were built, for better price of their crops.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III was launched in the year 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. Against the total target, 91371 km road length has already been sanctioned and 45,946 km completed as on 08th December 2022.

3-Aug-2021: Use of coir geo textiles in construction of roads under PMGSY

In order to encourage locally available materials and use of green technologies, guidelines were issued by the Ministry in May 2013, wherein the State Governments are required to propose minimum 15% of total length of annual proposals under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana   (PMGSY) under new technologies such as cement stabilization, lime stabilization, cold mix, waste plastics, cell filled concrete, paneled cement concrete pavement, fly ash, coir geo-textiles, etc. The details of roads constructed as on 28th July, 2021 using coir geo-textiles are as under.

Coir geo-textiles are used for improvement of sub-grade soil strength in road pavements and stabilization of side slopes. Coir geo-textiles have been used in various places for improving the properties and strength of sub-grade soil layer by providing a physical separation of sub-base and sub-grade layers. It is also used for side-slope protection, as it can retard soil erosion. The Indian Road Congress (IRC) has also accredited the use of coir geo-textiles in construction of roads. 

The State of Art Report published by the IRC HRB SR No. 21-2012 has reported that coir and jute technologies have proved to be effective in protection of slopes. In the preliminary observations by the National Quality Monitors (NQMs), these roads were found to be performing well. It has also been found that by improving the strength of the sub-grade soil the coir geo-textile results in marginal reduction in the thickness of the granular sub-base (GSB) layer, thus reducing costs. Cost of a road depends on the Schedule of Rates (SoR) of the State and local conditions. For those areas where coir is locally available, use of coir geo-textiles in road pavements is economical compared to the traditional methods of soil stabilization, especially when traditional material may not be available locally.

The State of Kerala has been allocated target length of construction of 71 km road length using Coir geo-textile under PMGSY-III, for which the requirement of Coir Geo-textile is assessed to be around 2.80 Lakh Square metre approximately.

Coir geo textile is being used for construction in PMGSY-III roads.

20-Jul-2021: The features of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all- weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and Himalayan Union Territories as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population. Relaxation has been provided to the Tribal (Schedule V) areas and Selected Tribal and Backward Districts (as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Planning Commission) and unconnected habitations in these areas with a population of 250 persons and above in the Core Network as per Census 2001 are eligible for connectivity under the scheme. In the critical Left Wing Extremism affected blocks (as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs), additional relaxation has been given to connect habitations with population 100 persons and above as per 2001 census.

The mandate of PMGSY has been subsequently widened to include new interventions. PMGSY- II was launched in the year 2013, with a target to upgrade 50,000 Kms of the existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency as a provider of transportation services for people, goods and services. Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was launched in the year 2016 for construction/upgradation of strategically important roads chosen in the 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts in the 9 States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. PMGSY-III was launched in the year 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 main features of PMGSY are decentralized and evidence based planning, standards and specifications as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) and Rural Roads Manual, dedicated implementation mechanism at central, state and district level, scrutiny of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) at multiple levels, strong IT backbone for monitoring and implementation of the programme, three-tier quality management system, unbroken flow of funds, inbuilt mechanism for consultation with public representatives at planning, selection of roads and monitoring stages, etc.

The State of Tamil Nadu has been allocated a target length of 7,375 Km under PMGSY-III. The State has so far been sanctioned 880 road works of 3,198.01 Km at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,817.10 crore, which also includes 18 roads of 78.30 Km sanctioned for widening and strengthening of the existing carriageway width. The implementation period of PMGSY-III is upto March, 2025.

The allocation of funds to the States for implementation of PMGSY depends, inter-alia, on works in hand, pace of expenditure and unspent balance available with the State. The unspent balance with the State as on 1st April, 2021 was Rs. 258.26 crore, out of which the State has spent Rs.227.22 crore as on 15th July, 2021, leaving a balance of Rs. 31.04 crore with the State.

18-Dec-2019: Phase–III of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana inaugurated

The Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched Phase III of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) on the side lines of the National Workshop on PMGSY organised by the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi. The Phase-III of PMGSY aims at consolidation of 1,25,000 Kms Through Routes and Major Rural Links that connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals with an estimated cost of Rs. 80,250 crores (Central Share of Rs. 53,800 crores) for the period 2019-20 to 2024-25. The funding pattern for the PMGSY-III will be 60:40 between Centre and the States for States other than NE & Himalayan States and 90:10 for NE and Himalayan States as applicable for Central sponsored schemes.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural session, Shri Tomar said that PMGSY is an important program for the nation. He said that there was a time when people could not imagine that villages will get quality roads as it was a difficult task. The Minister hailed the vision of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that he was determined to complete this difficult task and it was thanks to his vision and efforts that today more than 6 Lakh Kms of Roads have been constructed across rural India. The Minister highlighted the importance of roads in bringing about all round positive development and empowering the villages.

Shri Tomar emphasised that States must ensure that maintenance of roads is done on a regular basis to ensure that quality of roads remain good. He further said that now with the launch of Phase III of PMGSY, States must begin preparing and ensure effective implementation of the scheme. Shri Tomar expressed happiness that as on 16 December 2019, a total of 1,53,491 rural road works have been completed under the PMGSY Scheme connecting 97.27% of the eligible and feasible habitations and adding up a road length of 6,07,900 Kms across the country. Out of the above, a road length of 36,063 Kms has been constructed using green technologies, a major portion of which includes Waste plastic and cold mix technology.

The National Workshop organised by the NRIDA was attended by representatives from various States, Technical Institutions and Specialists who made presentations on various important topics and participated in panel discussions. Some of the important issues that were discussed during the Workshop include Maintenance of Rural Roads, Quality of Rural Roads, Contract Management, Planning of Rural Roads for increased traffic, Road Safety Issues, Use of new technologies especially plastic waste for construction of Rural Roads and Challenges in construction of roads and hilly areas and their solutions.

10-Jul-2019: Cabinet approves Launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III).

In a major boost to rural road connectivity across the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III).

It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States.

Impact:

• This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
• Roads constructed under PMGSY would also be maintained properly.

Financial Implications:

• It will entail an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore (Central Share-Rs. 53,800 crore, State Share- Rs 26,450 crore).
• The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.

Implementation:

• Project period: 2019-20 to 2024-25.
• Selection of candidate roads based on the sum total of the marks obtained by particular road on the basis of parameters of population served, market, educational and medical facilities, etc.
• Construction of bridges upto 150 m in plain areas and 200 m in Himalayan and NE States proposed, as against the existing provisions of 75 m and 100 m in plain areas and Himalayan and NE States respectively.
• The States shall be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before launching of PMGSY-III in the concerned State for providing adequate funds for maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY post 5-year construction maintenance period.

Progress under PMGSY: A total of 5,99,090 Km road length has been constructed under the scheme since inception till April, 2019 (inclusive of PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II and RCPLWEA Scheme).

Background: PMGSY-III scheme was announced by the Finance Minister in Budget Speech for the year 2018-19. The CCEA in its meeting held on 9th August, 2018 approved continuation of PMGSY-I & II beyond 12th Five Year Plan and covering of balance eligible habitations under PMGSY-I by March 2019, PMGSY-II, and habitations under identified LWE blocks (100-249 population) by March 2020.

PMGSY-I: PMGSY was launched in December, 2000 with an objective to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001) for overall socio-economic development of the areas. 97% of the eligible and feasible habitations have already been connected by all-weather road.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Area (RCPLWEA): Government launched Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism affected Areas in the year 2016 as a separate vertical under PMGSY to provide all-weather road connectivity with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 districts (35 are worst LWE affected districts and 09 are adjoining districts), which are critical from security and communication point of view. Under the Scheme, 5,066 Km road length has been sanctioned.