Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches PMGSY-IV from Bhairunda (Sehore), announces major development package worth thousands of crores for Madhya Pradesh
The fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) was formally launched at Bhairunda in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh during the silver jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of the programme.
PMGSY-IV (2024–2029) targets connecting 25,000 habitations through 62,500 km of new roads, with a total outlay of ₹70,125 crore.
A financial allocation of ₹18,907 crore has been announced for PMGSY for the fiscal year 2026-27, signalling the Centre's continued commitment to rural infrastructure.
A series of additional rural road, housing, and development projects worth over ₹4,000 crore were announced specifically for Madhya Pradesh.
As of December 2025, PMGSY has sanctioned 8,25,114 km of rural roads since inception, of which 7,87,520 km (nearly 95%) have been completed.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: Evolution Across Four Phases
PMGSY was launched on 25 December 2000 as a fully Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development (now executed through the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency — NRIDA). Its core objective is to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations in rural India, which had historically been denied access to markets, health facilities, and schools due to poor last-mile infrastructure.
Key Details
- Phase I (2000 onwards): 100% centrally funded; target of connecting 1,63,339 habitations via all-weather roads.
- Phase II (2013–2023): Shifted focus to upgradation of existing rural road networks, with a target of 50,000 km at an estimated cost of ₹33,030 crore; funding ratio changed to 60:40 (Centre:State).
- Phase III (2019–2024-25): Focused on consolidating Through Routes and Major Rural Links, especially those connecting Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools, and hospitals; target 1,25,000 km at ₹80,250 crore; 83% completed as of December 2025.
- Phase IV (2024–2029): 25,000 habitations, 62,500 km, ₹70,125 crore; introduces climate-resilient design standards, real-time monitoring via OMMAS and e-MARG platforms, GPS tracking, and a three-tier quality control system.
- Funding ratio (Phases II–IV): 60:40 Centre:State for general states; 90:10 for North Eastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand.
- Nodal body: Ministry of Rural Development / NRIDA.
The launch of PMGSY-IV at the silver jubilee mark represents a policy maturation — moving beyond simple connectivity to climate resilience, quality assurance, and technology-backed monitoring, while expanding the funding base to include state co-financing.
Rural Connectivity and Fundamental Rights
The right to move freely throughout the territory of India is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution. While this is a right against state restriction rather than a positive entitlement to infrastructure, the Supreme Court and policy literature have consistently held that physical inaccessibility effectively nullifies this right for rural populations. Rural road connectivity is therefore read as a foundational enabler of economic, social, and constitutional rights — including access to courts, healthcare, education, and employment.
Key Details
- Article 19(1)(d): Freedom of movement throughout India.
- Article 19(2): Reasonable restrictions permissible in the interest of sovereignty, public order, morality, etc.
- DPSP (Directive Principles): Article 39 (right to adequate means of livelihood) and Article 43 (living wage) are also cited in the context of connecting rural labour to markets.
PMGSY-IV's emphasis on connecting the last 25,000 habitations — many in tribal, backward, and LWE-affected areas — directly addresses the gap between formal constitutional rights and their substantive enjoyment.
Bharatmala Pariyojana and PMGSY: Complementary but Distinct
Bharatmala Pariyojana, launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is a national highway and expressway programme focused on interstate connectivity, freight corridors, ring roads, and border/coastal roads. PMGSY, by contrast, operates at the last-mile village level.
Key Details
- Bharatmala Phase I: ₹5.35 lakh crore; 34,800 km of national highway construction.
- Key corridors: Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors, Ring Roads, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement.
- Together, Bharatmala (national arteries) and PMGSY (rural capillaries) form an integrated road network hierarchy.
PMGSY-IV roads serve as feeder routes linking villages to Bharatmala corridors and state highways, ensuring that national highway investments translate into actual economic benefits for rural populations.
Quality Standards and Climate Resilience in PMGSY-IV
PMGSY roads must comply with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for rural roads. PMGSY-IV introduces additional climate-resilience mandates — roads in flood-prone and high-rainfall areas must use improved drainage design, appropriate pavement structures, and bioengineering techniques on embankments.
Key Details
- Quality monitoring: Three-tier system — State Quality Monitor (SQM), National Quality Monitor (NQM), and independent third-party inspections.
- Digital monitoring: Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS) and e-MARG (e-Maintenance of Rural Gravel roads).
- IRC SP:20 (Manual for Rural Roads) and IRC SP:72 are key technical references.
- Climate-resilient features: Raised embankments, culvert design for 100-year flood return period, use of local geotechnical data.
PMGSY-IV's emphasis on climate resilience is policy recognition that roads built without accounting for extreme weather events deteriorate rapidly, wasting public investment and re-creating connectivity gaps — a lesson drawn from post-monsoon road damage patterns in previous phases.
- PMGSY launched: 25 December 2000 (silver jubilee: 2025-26).
- Total roads sanctioned since 2000: 8,25,114 km; completed: ~7,87,520 km (95%).
- PMGSY-IV outlay: ₹70,125 crore for 62,500 km connecting 25,000 habitations (2024–29).
- PMGSY-IV annual allocation FY 2026-27: ₹18,907 crore.
- MP-specific package announced: ₹4,000+ crore in rural roads, housing, and development.
- Funding ratio: 60:40 (Centre:State) for general states; 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states including J&K.
- Nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development; execution: NRIDA.
- PMGSY-IV monitoring: OMMAS, e-MARG, GPS tracking, three-tier quality control.