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- India is a predominantly agrarian country. Inspite of this, the gap between urban and rural India is very wide. While urban India is enjoying the fruits of development and progress, the Indian villages have not been so lucky. A critical link on the path of progress is a national network of all-weather roads in the rural areas.The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a nationwide plan in India to provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages. It is under the authority of the Ministry of Rural Development and was begun on 25 December 2000
- The goal was to provide roads to all villages (1) with a population of 1000 persons and above by 2003, (2) with a population of 500 persons and above by 2007, (3) in hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 500 persons and above by 2003, and (4) in hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 250 persons and above by 2007.
- The primary focus of the Programme will be on construction of new roads. However, upgradation (to prescribed standards) of existing roads will be permitted to be taken up under the Programme so as to achieve connectivity through good All-weather roads.
- The Programme will cover only ‘Other District Roads’ (ODRs) and ‘Village Roads’ (VRs). The Rural Roads to be taken up will, by and large, be surfaced roads (black topped / cement concrete). However, depending upon the soil conditions, all-weather roads may also be Gravel Roads, but with all necessary cross- drainage structures.
- The Rural Roads constructed /upgraded under this Programme will be maintained by the concerned Panchayati Raj Institution
- In order to implement this, an Online Management & Monitoring System or OMMS GIS system was developed to identify targets and monitor progress
