PM Launches Projects Worth Over Rs. 34,000 Crore

• 11 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated numerous development initiatives totalling ₹34,000 crore.

Key Points

• In a significant boost to the civil aviation sector, the Prime Minister initiated the groundwork for multiple airport projects nationwide.
  • He unveiled 12 new Terminal Buildings at airports including Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Adampur.
  • He laid the foundation stones for three new Terminal Buildings at Kadapa, Hubballi, and Belagavi Airports.
• He also inaugurated the Light House Project (LHP), which has facilitated the construction of over 2000 affordable flats with modern amenities.
• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 744 rural road projects valued at more than ₹3700 crore, constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
• These projects encompass a cumulative length of over 5,400 kilometers of rural roads in Uttar Pradesh, benefiting approximately 59 districts in the state.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

• Launched on: 25^th December, 2000.
• Objective: To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
• Eligibility: Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
  • An Unconnected Habitation is one with a population of designated size located at a distance of at least 500 meters or more (1.5 km of path distance in case of Hills) from an All-weather road or a connected Habitation.
  • Core Network: It is that minimal Network of roads (routes) that is essential to provide Basic access to essential social and economic services to all eligible habitations in the selected areas through at least single all-weather road connectivity.
• Latest Funding Pattern: The fund allocation to states has been made in subsequent years commensurate with the value of projects sanctioned to states.
  • The Union Government bears 90% of the project cost in respect of projects sanctioned under the scheme in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, whereas for other states the Union Government bears 60% of the cost.
• Construction of Rural Roads: The Rural Roads constructed under the PMGSY will be in accordance with the provision of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
  • IRC is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country.
  • The IRC was set up in 1934.
• PMGSY - Phase I
  • PMGSY - Phase I was launched in December, 2000 as a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme.
  • Under the scheme, 1,35,436 habitations were targeted for providing road connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. for upgradation of existing rural roads in order to ensure full farm to market connectivity.
• PMGSY - Phase II
  • The Government of India subsequently launched PMGSY-II in 2013 for upgradation of 50,000 Kms of existing rural road network to improve its overall efficiency.
  • While the ongoing PMGSY - I continued, under PMGSY phase II, the roads already built for village connectivity were to be upgraded to enhance rural infrastructure.
  • The cost was shared between the centre and the states/UTs.
• PMGSY - Phase III
  • Phase III was approved by the Cabinet during July 2019.
  • It gives priorities to facilities like:
    • Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)
      • GrAMs are retail agricultural markets in close proximity to the farm gate that promote and service a more efficient transaction of the farmers’ produce.
    • Higher Secondary Schools and
    • Hospitals.
  • Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States. The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.