Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana - IV (PMGSY-IV)

Why in news?

The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – IV (PMGSY-IV) for the financial years 2024-25 to 2028-29, with a total outlay of ₹70,125 crore.

• This initiative aims to construct 62,500 kilometers of roads to connect 25,000 previously unconnected habitations, enhancing accessibility and promoting socio-economic development in remote rural areas.

About

• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was introduced by the Union Government in 2000 to connect isolated communities with decent all-weather roads.
• It is aCentrally Sponsored Scheme.
• The Ministry of Rural Development along with state governments is responsible for the implementation of PMGSY.

Objectives

• To connect unconnected Habitations with adequate all-weather roads. A habitation which was previously provided all-weather connectivity would not be eligible even if the current condition of the road is bad.
• The program's unit is a Habitation, not a revenue village or a panchayat. A population concentration whose location remains constant throughout time is referred to as a "habitation."

Significance of Rural road Connectivity

• Rural road connectivity is essential for both rural development and lasting poverty reduction because it facilitates access to economic and social services, which increases agricultural earnings and creates chances for productive work in India.

Funding pattern

• The PMGSY was announced as the Central Sector Scheme; fully funded by the central government.
• After the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes made recommendationsin 2015, it was declared that the project will be funded by both the Union government (60%) and the states (40%).
• In the North-Eastern and Himalayan States, the Union Government covers 90% of the project costs; in other states, the Union Government covers 60% of the costs.

Eligibility

• Unconnected settlements with a specified population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in northeastern, Himalayan, desert, and tribal areas according to the 2001 census).
• An unconnected habitat is at least 500 metres (or 1.5 km of path distance in the case of hills) away from an all-weather road or a linked habitat and has a population of a certain size.

PMGSY - Phase I

• It was launched in December 2000.
• Targets:Providing road connectivity to 1,35,436 habitations and upgradation of 3.68 lakh km of existing rural roads.

Phase II of PMGSY

• It was initiated in 2013 to upgrade the existing 50,000 km rural road network.
• PMGSY Phase I was still in progress, and PMGSY phase II called for upgrading the roads that had previously been constructed for village connectivity to improve rural infrastructure.

PMGSY - Phase III

It was launched in July 2019.

The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.

It gives priority to facilities like; Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

oGrAMs are retail agricultural marketplaces for agricultural products located close to the farm that supports and facilitate a more effective exchange of the farmers' supply.

It is proposed that 1, 25,000 km of road in the States be integrated under the PMGSY-III Plan.