25 Years of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: A Milestone in Rural Development

On 25th December, 2025 The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) completed 25 years in 2025. It is one of India’s most important rural development schemes. PMGSY aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations, helping villages connect with markets, schools, hospitals, and economic opportunities.

PMGSY at 25: Scale and Achievements

• Since the inception PMGSY has achieved remarkable physical and institutional progress.
• As of December 2025, a total of 8,25,114 km of rural roads have been sanctioned under the programme, of which 7,87,520 km have already been completed, reflecting nearly 95 to 96% physical progress.
• This scale makes PMGSY one of the largest rural road programs in the world.
• Budgetary support continues to reinforce the scheme’s importance.
• For the FY 2025 – 26, PMGSY has been allocated ₹19,000 crore, underscoring the government’s sustained commitment to strengthening rural connectivity and economic opportunities.

Phased Progress under PMGSY

Since its inception,

• Total roads sanctioned: 8,25,114 km
• Total roads completed: 7,87,520 km (Nearly 95% progress)
• Budgetary allocation 2025–26: Rs. 19,000 crore

PMGSY Phase I (2000)

• Objective: Provide all-weather road connectivity to previously unconnected habitations.
• Benefited: 1,63,339 rural habitations nationwide.

PMGSY Phase II (2013)

• Focus: Upgrading existing networks, linking rural markets and service hubs for efficient transportation.
• Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) – 2016
• Target: 44 LWE affected districts in 9 states
• Dual goal: Enhance security mobility and promote socio-economic development.

PMGSY Phase III (2019)

• Target: 1,25,000 km of Through Routes and Major Rural Links

Achievements (as of Dec 2025),

• Sanctioned: 1,22,393 km
• Constructed: 1,01,623 km (Nearly 83% progress)
• Outcome: Improved education, healthcare, market access, and employment in rural areas.

PMGSY Phase IV (2024-29)

• Objective: Connect 25,000 unconnected habitations through 62,500 km of roads
• Outlay: Rs. 70,125 crore
• Focus: Special category areas (Tribal regions, Aspirational Districts, Desert areas)

Technology Driven Monitoring and Quality Assurance

• PMGSY’s success is strongly supported by the adoption of advanced digital platforms and monitoring systems, ensuring transparency, accountability, and durability.
• The Online Management, Monitoring, and Accounting System (OMMAS) enables real time tracking of physical and financial progress.
• Quality inspections by National and State Quality Monitors are geo tagged and uploaded through mobile applications, ensuring field level transparency.
• The e-MARG platform ensures systematic monitoring of road maintenance during the five year Defect Liability Period and linking contractor payments directly to road performance and quality outcomes.
• Mandatory GPS enabled vehicle tracking systems, enforced since May 2022 under PMGSY-III, further strengthen oversight by monitoring equipment deployment and construction processes.

Three Tier Quality Monitoring System

A robust three-tier Quality Monitoring System ensures long-term asset durability.

• Tier I involves field-level checks by executing agencies.
• Tier II includes inspections by independent State Quality Monitors.
• Tier III consists of surprise audits by National Quality Monitors deputed by the Ministry of Rural Development.

All assessments are integrated into OMMAS for real time oversight.

Key Takeaways

• PMGSY launched on 25 December 2000; completed 25 years in 2025.
• 8.25 lakh km sanctioned, 7.87 lakh km completed (Nearly 96%).
• PMGSY-IV (2024–29): 62,500 km roads, ₹70,125 crore outlay, 25,000 habitations.
• PMGSY-III achieved 83% construction progress by December 2025.
• Strong use of OMMAS, e-MARG, GPS tracking, and three-tier quality monitoring.
• Emphasis on sustainable materials and climate-resilient technologies.

Question

Q. In which year was the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) launched?

A. 1999
B. 2000
C. 2005
D. 2013