National Current Affairs
Cabinet Approves Extension of PMGSY-III till March 2028
- 20 Apr 2026
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond its original deadline of March 2025. The extension aims to ensure the completion of critical rural infrastructure projects and has been updated with a revised financial outlay.
Key Points
- Key Decisions and Timelines: The Cabinet has sanctioned extended deadlines based on terrain and project type to facilitate full implementation:
- Plain Areas: Completion of both roads and bridges extended until March 2028.
- Hilly Areas (Roads): Completion extended until March 2028.
- Hilly Areas (Bridges): A further extension until March 2029 has been granted due to technical complexities.
- Un-awarded Works: Projects sanctioned before March 31, 2025, that were not yet awarded can now proceed to tendering and execution.
- Revised Financial Outlay:The total budget for the scheme has been increased to support the extended implementation period:
- Revised Total Outlay: ₹83,977 crore (Increased from the original ₹80,250 crore).
- Long Span Bridges (LSBs): Approval for 161 LSBs with an estimated cost of ₹961 crore that were previously pending sanction.
- Core Objectives: Launched in 2019, this phase differs from previous ones by focusing on the consolidation and upgradation of existing routes rather than just new connectivity. The primary targets include:
- Through Routes and Major Rural Links: Connecting habitations to essential services.
- GrAMs: Enhancing access to Gramin Agricultural Markets for better crop price realisation.
- Social Infrastructure: Improving links to Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
- PMGSY-IV: While PMGSY-III is being extended to complete existing targets, the government has also launched PMGSY-IV (2024-25 to 2028-29). This new phase aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 previously unconnected habitations with a total outlay of ₹70,125 crore.
| Read More: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana |
