Thursday, 11 Sep, 2025
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Furthering its commitment, the government introduced PMGSY-III in 2019, focusing on the consolidation of existing road networks by upgrading 1.25 lakh kilometers of key rural roads.
In a significant push toward strengthening rural infrastructure, the Government of India continues to make substantial progress under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a flagship initiative aimed at improving road connectivity in rural areas. Launched in December 2000, the scheme was envisioned to provide all-weather road access to eligible unconnected habitations across the country, thereby enabling better access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and markets, and ultimately improving the overall quality of life in rural communities. Over the years, the scheme has evolved to address growing demands and challenges, with new components added to expand its scope and impact.
The second phase of the scheme, PMGSY-II, was introduced in 2013 with a focus on upgrading the existing rural road network. This was aimed at reinforcing rural infrastructure by enhancing connectivity between villages and key institutions. In 2016, the government launched the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA), a targeted initiative to improve road access in 44 of the most severely affected districts, along with some adjoining areas, across nine states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. The dual objective of this project was to facilitate smooth and secure movement of security forces in regions troubled by left-wing extremism, while also unlocking development opportunities for these long-neglected areas by improving transportation and access to services.
Furthering its commitment, the government introduced PMGSY-III in 2019, focusing on the consolidation of existing road networks by upgrading 1.25 lakh kilometers of key rural roads. These included 'Through Routes' and 'Major Rural Links' connecting agricultural markets, higher secondary schools, and healthcare centers. This phase underscored the importance of ensuring that not just any roads, but roads of strategic and economic significance, are developed to foster rural growth.
Source: Ministry of Rural Development
As of August 22, 2025, the cumulative road length sanctioned under the PMGSY programme stood at an impressive 8,38,592 kilometers. Out of this, 7,83,795 kilometers have already been constructed, many using environmentally sustainable and green technologies. These figures highlight both the scale and seriousness of the government’s commitment to improving rural connectivity.
To ensure the timely completion of pending projects, the government has set the deadline for PMGSY-I (specifically for Chhattisgarh), PMGSY-II, RCPLWEA, and PMGSY-III as March 31, 2026. Projects under other categories were targeted for completion by March 2025. Despite the logistical and geographical challenges, the programme continues to move forward at a steady pace.
In a major policy decision that reflects the dynamic nature of rural demographics, the Union Cabinet approved the launch of PMGSY Phase-IV on September 11, 2024. This new phase addresses the needs of habitations that have recently become eligible for connectivity due to population growth. Under this phase, the government aims to connect 25,000 such habitations by constructing 62,500 kilometers of new rural roads. The total investment earmarked for this phase is ₹70,125 crore, to be spread over five years from 2024–25 to 2028–29. The announcement of Phase-IV not only reinforces the government's long-standing vision of inclusive development but also ensures that rising population trends do not leave emerging habitations isolated.
Through its multi-phased, evolving approach, the PMGSY has emerged as one of the most ambitious and transformative rural development programmes in India. Beyond infrastructure, it has played a vital role in bridging the urban-rural divide, enabling economic participation, enhancing access to essential services, and strengthening national integration by physically linking the remotest corners of the country to the mainstream.
Under the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III), the government has achieved a significant milestone by connecting a total of 6.96 lakh rural facilities, marking a transformative shift in rural accessibility and infrastructure. Among these, 1.38 lakh Gramin Agricultural Markets, 1.46 lakh educational centres, 82,000 medical centres, and 3.28 lakh transport and other essential service centres have been linked through newly constructed or upgraded rural roads. This extensive network has vastly improved the ease of access to crucial services for millions living in remote areas, contributing directly to the socio-economic upliftment of rural populations. By bridging the physical gap between people and essential facilities, PMGSY-III has enabled better access to healthcare, education, agricultural trade, and transport services, key pillars for rural development and empowerment.
In 2020, the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog conducted a comprehensive assessment of centrally sponsored schemes in the rural development sector, including PMGSY. The evaluation found that the scheme is not only effectively structured to meet national development priorities, but also aligns well with India’s commitments to international development frameworks, particularly the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, PMGSY contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), as it addresses critical challenges related to rural poverty, hunger, and infrastructure development. The evaluation revealed that roads constructed under the scheme have created a range of positive impacts at both the household and community levels.
Enhanced rural connectivity has opened up access to local markets and livelihood opportunities, while also improving the reach and quality of healthcare and education services. More importantly, the report emphasized that PMGSY has laid the groundwork for long-term poverty reduction in rural India. By enabling households to participate more actively in economic activities and access public services more efficiently, the scheme has contributed to sustained improvements in living standards. It has empowered rural communities to build wealth, invest in education and health, and strengthen their overall human capital, making PMGSY not just a road-building initiative, but a powerful engine of inclusive and enduring development.
