• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the continuation of phase I & II of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) up to September 2022. The CCEA also approved continuation of Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) up to March 2023.

• A majority of pending works under PMGSY-I and II are in the northeast and hill states due to factors such as lockdown, extended rains, winters and forest issues.

• States have been requesting the central government for extension of time to complete these crucial works related to rural economy. Extension of time up to September 2022 is being granted to help these states to complete the balance works.

• A total of Rs 1,12,419 crore, including state share is likely to be incurred from 2021-22 to 2024-25 for completion of all the ongoing interventions of PMGSY.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

• Road connectivity is a key component of rural development by promoting access to economic and social services and thereby generating employment opportunities and increased agricultural income. 

• It is also a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction.

• The unit for this programme is habitation and not revenue village or panchayat. A habitation is a cluster of population living in an area and the location of which does not change over time. Desam, dhanis, tolas, majras, hamlets, etc are commonly used terminology to describe habitation.

• Various independent impact evaluation studies carried out on PMGSY have concluded that the scheme has had a positive impact on agriculture, health, education, urbanization and employment generation, etc.

• Rural connectivity is a development imperative. All weather road connectivity to balance habitations would unlock the economic potential of the connected habitations. Upgradation of the existing rural roads would improve the overall efficiency of road network as a provider of transportation services for people, goods and services. 

• The construction/upgradation of roads would generate both direct and indirect employment to the local populace.

• The PMGSY promotes use of new and green technology in construction of rural roads and locally available materials are used in road construction in order to promote cost-effective and fast construction. More than 1 lakh km of road length has been taken up using new and green technology, out of which, more than 61,000 km has been completed.

• The PMGSY envisages a three tier quality assurance mechanism to ensure quality of road works during construction and post-construction. The number of quality monitors both at central and state levels as also the intensity of the inspections have been increased for better quality management. The proportion of satisfactory works has witnessed an increasing trend in recent years.

PMGSY-I

• The government started PMGSY-I in December 2000 to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations of population size of over 500 in plain areas and over 250 in the northeast and Himalayan states. In selected left wing extremism blocks, habitations of 100-plus population were also to be provided connectivity. 

• Only 2,432 habitations are remaining out of a total of 1,84,444 habitations and 20,950 km road length and 1,974 bridges are balance for completion out of total sanctioned 6,45,627 km road length and 7,523 bridges, work on which will now get completed.

• The phase I was a 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme.

PMGSY-II

• The phase II was approved in 2013. The roads already built for village connectivity was upgraded to enhance rural infrastructure under phase II. The total length of upgradation planned was 50,000 km.

• Under PMGSY-II, only 4,240 km road length and 254 bridges are balance, which will also be completed now.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas

• The government launched Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism affected areas in 2016 with an outlay of Rs. 11,725 crore 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 9 are adjoining districts), which are critical from security and communication point of view. 

• 10,231 km road length and bridges sanctioned under the scheme so far, including the additional proposals recommended by MHA subsequently. 5,714 km road length 358 bridge works are balance for completion and another 1,887 km road length and 40 bridges are being sanctioned. 

• The scheme is being extended up to March 2023 for completion of these projects, which are very critical from communication and security point of view.

PMGSY-III

• The phase III of the scheme was launched in 2019. It involves consolidation of through routes and major rural links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools and hospitals. It also includes maintenance of the roads constructed under the scheme.

• It will entail an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore for the period 2019-20 to 2024-25. The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and states. For eight northeast states and Himalayan states the ratio is 90:10.

• Around 72,000 km road length has so far been sanctioned under PMGSY-III, out of which, 17,750 km has been completed.

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