Budget 2019: Rural roads get Rs 80,000 crore push

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday allocated over Rs 80,000 crore for upgradation of 1.25 lakh km of rural roads under the phase-III of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The move is expected to improve the ease of living for country’s large rural population.

The move is being undertaken to widen the rural roads and increasing the network further after the first two phases of the PMGSY. In rural areas, there is wear and tear of the roads due to the transport of agricultural equipment, which is usually heavy. Also, with the monsoon, the wear and tear is increased in rural areas. Hence, along with the widening of the roads already built, the third phase is expected to be instrumental in the upkeep of already built roads.

Under the first two phases of PMGSY, a total of 1.25 lakh km of rural roads have been built across various villages in the country. Recently, the ministry had increased the ceiling from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 for foundation laying and the inauguration of roads.


The government has set a target to construct 7,000-km roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMSY) during the current year, 2019-20. Out of this target, 3,000-km roads will be built under the green technology with use of cold mixture, terazyme, iron slag, envirotac, cement stabilization, waste plastic, panel concrete, cell-filled concrete, nano technology and roller compacted concrete. Rs 3,936.04 crore is expected to be spent for construction of all 7,000-km roads.