In news– Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-I and II upto September, 2022 for completion of balance road and bridge works.
About Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)–
- The Union Government started PMGSY-I to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations of population size 500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East and Himalayan states as per census 2001.
- In selected Left-wing extremism blocks, habitations of 100+ population were also to be provided connectivity.
- Its objective was to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation of designated population size for overall socio economic development of the areas.
- The Scheme also included a component of upgradation of existing rural roads for those districts where all the eligible habitations had been saturated.
- PMGSY-II, which was approved by the Cabinet in May, 2013, envisaged consolidation of 50,000 Km of existing rural road network.
- Majority of pending works under PMGSY-I and II are in the North-East and hill States due to factors such as COVID lockdown, extended rains, winters, forest issues.
- Now all the balance habitations are targeted for connectivity within the proposed extended period, i.e. upto September, 2022.
- The PMGSY-III was launched in the year 2019 for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km existing through routes and Major rural links connecting habitations, inter-alia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets, Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals and the implementation period of the scheme is upto March, 2025.
Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas–
- Government launched it in the year 2016 as a separate vertical under PMGSY for construction/upgradation of 5,412 Km road length and 126 bridges of strategic importance.
- It covered 44 districts in 9 states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Implementation period: 2016-17 to 2019-20
- Road and bridge works to be taken up under the scheme have been identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with states and security forces.
- Balance projects and additional projects of around 1,887 Km, which are yet to be sanctioned, are targeted for completion within the proposed extended period, i.e. upto March, 2023.
Source: PIB
