Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

India has essentially a rural-oriented economy with 74 per cent of its population living in its villages. At the commencement of PMGSY in 2000, it was estimated that about 330,000 out of its 825,000 villages and habitations were without any all-weather road access. A majority of the poorly connected rural communities lie in ten States (Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal).

Rural Road Connectivity is not only a key component of Rural Development by promoting access to economic and social services and thereby generating increased agricultural incomes and productive employment opportunities in India, it is also as a result, a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the efforts made, over the years, at the State and Central levels, through different Programmes, about 40% of the Habitations in the country are still not connected by All-weather roads. It is well known that even where connectivity has been provided, the roads constructed are of such quality (due to poor construction or maintenance) that they cannot always be categorised as All-weather roads.

With a view to redressing the situation, Government have launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana on 25th December, 2000 to provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a centrally Sponsored Scheme (90% central share and 10% state share).

The Agency shall act for sole purpose of implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana under the guidance and norms as fixed by the National Rural Road Development Agency (now National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency).