There is a yawning gap between ‘Urban India’ and ‘Rural Bharat’. Villages have not been able to keep pace on the path of progress. A critical link on this path is a national network of All-weather roads in the Rural Areas.

There is a close link between Rural Connectivity and Growth, be it in the area of Trade, Employment, Education or Healthcare. States with poor connectivity are also States that reflect poor socio-economic indices.

A critical link for progress is, therefore, a nationwide network of All-weather roads in our rural areas.

While over the last five decades, the length of Rural Roads has been increasing, there are still more than 40% Habitations, which remain unconnected.

For the first time, a Programme has been launched, in December 2001, that is dedicated solely to the construction of Rural Roads - the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The Programme envisages connecting every Unconnected Habitation with a population of over 1000 persons through Good, all-weather roads, by the year 2003; and those with a population of more than 500 persons, by the year 2007. In the Hill States, Desert and Tribal areas, all Habitations with a population of more than 250 will be covered.

In order that a Programme of this nature and magnitude is effective, PMGSY incorporates the following key elements:

• Providing Connectivity to all Unconnected Habitations
• Designing of Roads to Standards set by the Indian Roads Congress.
• Preparation of Master Plans - District Rural Roads Plan and Core Network - for every Block in the country.
• Execution on a Project Mode.
• Execution of Roadworks by competent Contractors.
• Ensuring Standard Specifications, including adequate cross-drainage works.
• Time-bound Execution - completion in 9-12 months; Penalty clauses for time overruns; No escalation permitted
• Strict Quality Control - 3-tier Quality Control System, including Independent Monitors, to inspect works.
• Extensive Use of Information Technology - for On-line monitoring.
• Audit - Internal and External.

The Programme further envisages

• Ready availability of Land for the Roads;
• Maintenance of the Roads by Panchayati Raj Institutions;
• Encouraging Use of locally available materials for construction of roads;

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
A Programme with vision, clarity of purpose, professionalism, transparency and accountability. A Programme to transform lives of rural people through Roads that would bring Growth, Employment and Change. A Programme that would enable millions to cross the Poverty Line.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Bridging the gap between 'Urban India' and 'Rural Bharat'.