PMGSY Five-Year Performance and New Initiatives
The Ministry of Rural Development reported that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a total of 131,589 km of road length (18,814 roads and 5,110 bridges) was completed at an expenditure of ₹1,05,948 crore (including State Share) during the last five years across the country including Tamil Nadu. The year-wise breakdown shows: 2021-22 saw 6,557 roads (42,015 km) and 1,398 bridges built at ₹27,833 crore; 2022-23 had 6,074 roads (29,721 km) and 1,101 bridges at ₹24,228 crore; 2023-24 completed 443 roads (26,095 km) and 857 bridges at ₹20,301 crore; 2024-25 constructed 2,835 roads (18,110 km) and 712 bridges at ₹18,672 crore; and 2025-26 built 2,905 roads (15,648 km) and 1,042 bridges at ₹14,914 crore.
In the Kallakurichi Constituency of Tamil Nadu specifically, 62 roads of 257 km length and 3 bridges have been constructed with an expenditure of ₹184 crore since the program's inception. Under PMGSY-I, connectivity has been provided to 162,845 out of 163,275 sanctioned habitations (99.7%), with road works for the remaining 401 habitations at various stages of execution.
PMGSY-IV Launch and Progress
In September 2024, the Government launched PMGSY IV with the primary objective of providing all-weather road connectivity to approximately 25,000 unconnected habitations with specific population criteria: 500+ in plains, 250+ in Special Category States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir and Uttarakhand) and Special Category Areas (Tribal Schedule-V Areas, Desert Areas, Aspirational Blocks/Districts and Hilly areas), and 100+ in LWE affected Districts. States/UTs have surveyed 41,200 habitations for connectivity, which are being scrutinized by National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA). To date, 6,752 road works of 19,643 km and 94 bridges have been sanctioned, which will provide connectivity to 7,455 habitations.
Quality Assurance and Maintenance Framework
As per PMGSY guidelines, State/UT Governments are responsible for ensuring road quality and maintenance, though the Department of Rural Development conducts quality assessment through National Quality Monitors (NQMs) and monitors maintenance through compulsory routine inspections on the eMARG digital platform. All PMGSY works are covered by initial five-year maintenance contracts during the Defect Liability Period (DLP), with maintenance funds budgeted by State/UT Governments and placed at the disposal of State Rural Roads Development Agencies (SRRDAs). Routine inspections are conducted bi-monthly with expenditure based on performance. After DLP, roads are placed under Zonal maintenance contracts for an additional five years including renewal and maintenance.
Digital Initiatives and Monitoring Mechanisms
The Ministry has implemented several digital initiatives to expedite completion and ensure transparency: (i) Online Management, Monitoring, and Accounting System (OMMAS) for real-time monitoring of physical and financial progress; (ii) Project Management Information System (PMIS) for better management of construction activities; (iii) Mandatory GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) on all contractor equipment; (iv) eMARG platform for performance-based maintenance contracts and payments; (v) Regular monitoring through Regional Review Meetings, Performance Review Committee meetings, and Pre-Empowered/Empowered Committee meetings; (vi) Unique digital identity (QR code) for each PMGSY road enabling public grievance redressal through Meri Sadak mobile application and CPGRAMS portal.