About
- PM Gram Sadak Yojana was launched on 25th December 2000.
- To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
Eligibility:
Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts, and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
- An Unconnected Habitation is one with a population of designated size located at a distance of at least 500 meters or more (1.5 km of path distance in case of Hills) from an All-weather road or a connected Habitation.
- Core Network: It is that minimal Network of roads (routes) that is essential to provide Basic access to essential social and economic services to all eligible habitations in the selected areas through at least a single all-weather road connectivity.
Latest Funding Pattern:
The fund allocation to states has been made in subsequent years commensurate with the value of projects sanctioned to states.
The Union Government bears 90% of the project cost for projects sanctioned under the scheme in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, whereas for other states the Union Government bears 60% of the cost.
Construction of Rural Roads:
The Rural Roads constructed under the PMGSY will be following the provision of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
- IRC is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country.
- The IRC was set up in 1934.
PMGSY – Phase I
- PMGSY – Phase I was launched in December 2000 as a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme.
- Under the scheme, 1,35,436 habitations were targeted for providing road connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. for the upgradation of existing rural roads to ensure full farm-to-market connectivity.
PMGSY – Phase II
- The Government of India subsequently launched PMGSY-II in 2013 for the upgradation of 50,000 Km of the existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency.
- While the ongoing PMGSY – I continued, under PMGSY phase II, the roads already built for village connectivity were to be upgraded to enhance rural infrastructure.
- The cost was shared between the center and the states/UTs.
PMGSY – Phase III
- Phase III was approved by the Cabinet in July 2019.
- It gives priorities to facilities like:
- Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)
- GrAMs are retail agricultural markets close to the farm gate, that promote and service a more efficient transaction of the farmers’ produce.
- Higher Secondary Schools and
- Hospitals.
- Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km of road length in the States. The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.
Challenges
- Lack of dedicated funds.
- Limited involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- Inadequate execution and contracting capacity.
- Less working season and difficult terrain particularly in Hill States.
- Scarcity of the construction materials.
- Security concerns particularly in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.
