The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched, as a one-time special intervention, with the objective to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all- weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
This Centrally Sponsored Scheme was introduced in 2000 by the then-prime minister of India Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The objective of the scheme is to provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) program has been attempting to increase the green cover near the roads.
PMGSY - Phase I was launched in December, 2000 as a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme. Under the scheme, 1,35,436 habitations were targeted for providing road connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. for upgradation of existing rural roads in order to ensure full farm to market connectivity.
The Government of India subsequently launched PMGSY-II in 2013 for upgradation of 50,000 Kms of existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency. While the ongoing PMGSY - I continued, under PMGSY phase II, the roads already built for village connectivity was to be upgraded to enhance rural infrastructure. The cost was shared between the centre and the states/UTs.
Phase III was approved by the Cabinet during July 2019. It gives priorities to facilities like Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools, Hospitals etc. Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States. The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.