Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to boost rural road connectivity

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Modi has given its approval for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) beyond the 12th Five Year Plan period.

It will help in connecting 38,412 habitations at an estimated cost of Rs 84,934 crore (the central government share is Rs 54,900 crore and and the state government share is Rs 30,034 crore). The fund sharing pattern will be the same.

Road connectivity is a basic need in the development of any region and subsequent growth of the local businesses.

Habitation (population 250+) would be covered by March 2019. PMGSY-II and habitations under identified LWE blocks (100-249 population) would be covered by March 2020.

Initially, the targets of PMGSY were to be achieved by March 2022, however, the sunset date of achievement of PMGSY-I was advanced to March 2019. This will have enhanced fund allocation and changed funding pattern that is in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for eight Northeastern and three Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.

The task of connecting 1,78,184 eligible unconnected habitations under PMGSY is on its way towards completion by March, 2019. So far, 95% habitations (1,69,415) have been sanctioned, of which 91% habitations (1,54,257) have been connected, including 16,380 habitations connected by the States from their own resources.

Against the sanctioned length of 6,58,143 km, 5,50,601 km road length has been completed. Under PMGSY-II, against the target length of 50,000 km works of upgradation almost 32,100 km road length have been sanctioned in 13 States, which have transited to PMGSY-II. Against the sanctions issued, 12,000 km road length has been completed up to March, 2018.

Background

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on December 25, 2000, with the objective to provide all-weather road connectivity to the eligible unconnected habitations in rural areas of the country.

The programme envisages connecting all unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons (as per 2001 Census) and above in plain areas. Also eligible are the unconnected habitations with 250 persons and above (Census 2001) in Special Category States' namely Northeast, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, the desert areas (as identified in Desert Development Programme) and 88 selected tribal and backward districts as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs/Planning Commission.

For most Intensive Integrated Action Plan (IAP) blocks as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the unconnected habitations with population 100 and above (as per 2001 census) is eligible to be covered under PMGSY.