PMGSY Achievements: 8,695 km of Rural Roads Constructed in 2024-25; Uttar Pradesh Leads with Over 2,000 km

New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) Under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a total of 8,695 km of roads have been constructed throughout the nation in 2024-25 to date, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the primary beneficiary with 2,094 km, as reported to Parliament on Friday.

In the previous fiscal year 2023-24, a total of 26,099 km of roads were developed under this rural connectivity initiative, following 29,739 km in 2022-23 and 42,004 km in 2021-22, stated Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.

Over the past three years, Uttar Pradesh has been the greatest beneficiary of this scheme. In 2023-24, the state received 6,799 km of rural roads; in 2022-23, it constructed 5,011 km, and in 2021-22, it built 3,368 km of roads, as detailed by Paswan while responding to a query from Ashokrao Chavan of the BJP.

In the current financial year, other significant beneficiary states under the Central government-backed rural road initiative include Rajasthan (851 km), Bihar (773 km), Maharashtra (685 km), Jammu and Kashmir (574 km), Jharkhand (514 km), Himachal Pradesh (446 km), and Odisha (427 km).

MoS Paswan announced a new component under PMGSY, referred to as PMGSY-IV, aimed at providing all-weather access to 25,000 unconnected habitations with populations exceeding 500 in plain areas, 250 in Northeastern and Hill States/UTs, and 100 in districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

This initiative will be executed from 2024-25 to 2028-29 with a budget of Rs 70,125 crore to ensure connectivity to 25,000 unconnected habitations, according to his statements.

PMGSY represents a one-time special measure taken by the Central government to enhance rural infrastructure via road construction. Since its launch, the scheme has played a crucial role in transforming rural connectivity across India. Up until December 2, 2024, a total of 7,68,892.47 km of roads have been constructed at a cost of Rs 3,29,123.01 crore, as noted by MoS Paswan.

The Minister mentioned that various assessments have affirmed the positive effects of PMGSY on the rural economy in remote areas.

Some of the advantages include establishing the groundwork for long-term poverty alleviation in rural India. It also promotes better rural connectivity, leading to a sustained enhancement in the living standards of rural communities, as it enables families to build wealth and human capital.

A 2018 World Bank evaluation of PMGSY revealed that crops transported to markets from roads established under the scheme increased by 8 percent, with farmers traveling 7.2 to 9.8 km farther to obtain better prices for their produce.

According to the World Bank's findings regarding the rural road initiative, the rate of primary employment in the non-farm sector rose by around 13 percent.

The proportion of individuals with primary employment outside their local areas increased by 8 percent, while the percentage of home births decreased by 30 percent in connected habitations, as per the impact evaluation report.