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