Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

  • Why it Matters? 

  • Earlier in June 2025, the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) directed all states to affix Quick Response (QR) codes on maintenance information display boards for roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to enhance transparency and enable public feedback. 

What You Should Know? 

  • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) launched on 25 December 2000 by the National Democratic Alliance under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, aimed to construct all-weather rural roads. 

  • Phase II was initiated in May 2013 that focused on upgrading 50,000 km of existing rural roads. 

  • Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was launched in 2016 to enhance road connectivity in LWE-affected districts. 

  • Phase III was commenced in 2019, to consolidate and improve throughputroutes linking rural habitations. 

  • Phase IV was approved by the Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024, and aims to connect 25,000 unconnected habitations with 62,500 km of new roads under a ₹ 70,125 crore outlay during FY 2024–25 to FY 2028–29. 

  • Its funding pattern was initially 100% central and revised in 2015–16 to 60:40 CentreState and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States. 

  • The maintenance is undertaken by contractors for five years post-construction, monitored via the mobilecumweb e-MARG (electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads) system under the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA). 

QR Codes: 

  • In June 2025, the Ministry of Rural Development, via NRIDA, directed states to affix Quick Response (QR) codes on maintenance information display boards of PMGSY roads to facilitate public feedback via eMARG. 

  • Road users can scan the QR code to access road details, upload geo-tagged photographs, and report maintenance issues in English and local languages. 

  • The submitted feedback is integrated with Routine Inspections and analyzed through Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to inform Performance Evaluation scores, enhancing transparency in the 5-year maintenance period.