**Executive Summary**
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) from March 2025 until March 2028 to ensure the completion of rural connectivity projects. The scheme’s total outlay has been revised to ₹83,977 crore to facilitate the consolidation of routes connecting habitations to markets, schools, and hospitals. Key deadlines include March 2028 for most works and March 2029 for bridges in hilly areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Extended Timelines for Completion**
* Roads and bridges in plain areas and roads in hilly areas must be completed by March 2028.
* Bridges in hilly areas have been granted an extended completion timeline until March 2029.
**Tendering and Sanctioning of Works**
* Works sanctioned before March 31, 2025, which remain un-awarded, are now authorized for tender and award.
* 161 Long Span Bridges (LSBs), costing approximately ₹961 crore and located on previously sanctioned road alignments, can now be sanctioned, tendered, and awarded.
**Financial and Strategic Scope**
* The total financial outlay has been increased to ₹83,977 crore from the original ₹80,250 crore.
* The project focuses on Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools, and Hospitals.
**Intended Socio-Economic Benefits**
* Enhancing rural incomes by improving market access for agricultural and non-farm products.
* Reducing transportation time and costs while improving access to healthcare and education.
* Generating direct employment via construction and indirect employment through rural enterprises.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Residents and Communities**
**Impact**
Improved connectivity to essential services like hospitals and schools, particularly in remote areas, leading to better delivery of services and reduced travel time.
**Action Required**
N/A (Beneficiaries of infrastructure).
**Agricultural and Non-farm Producers**
**Impact**
Increased rural income through enhanced access to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) and reduced logistical costs for transporting goods.
**Action Required**
Utilize improved road networks for the trade and distribution of products.
**Ministry of Rural Development and Implementing Agencies**
**Impact**
Granted additional time and a higher budget (₹83,977 crore) to complete pending infrastructure targets and achieve the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047."
**Action Required**
Expedite the tendering and awarding process for un-awarded works and the 161 pending Long Span Bridges.
**Construction Sector and Rural Enterprises**
**Impact**
Creation of substantial direct employment through construction activities and indirect opportunities by promoting rural services.
**Action Required**
Participate in the tendering process and mobilize resources for project execution through 2028-2029.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III): A centrally sponsored scheme focused on the consolidation of rural roads and bridges to connect habitations with markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.
Ministry of Rural Development: The nodal ministry responsible for overseeing the implementation and funding of rural infrastructure projects under PMGSY-III.
Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs): Rural agricultural markets identified as key connectivity targets under the scheme to enhance trade and rural incomes.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The strategic national vision for a developed India by 2047, which the extension of this infrastructure policy aims to advance.
Ministry of Rural Development
Cabinet approves Continuation of Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III)
beyond March 2025 upto March 2028
Posted On: 18 APR 2026 3:16PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval for
the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 upto March
2028. It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to
Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. The revised outlay of
the scheme will be Rs.83,977 crore.
The Cabinet further, amongst other things, approved the following:
i. Extension of timeline till March 2028 for completion of roads and bridges in plain areas and roads
in hilly areas.
ii. Extension of timeline till March 2029 for completion of bridges in hilly areas.
iii. Works sanctioned before 31.03.2025 but un-awarded till now may be taken up for tender/award.
iv. Long Span Bridges (LSBs) (161 Nos. with estimated cost of Rs.961 crore) pending for sanction but
lying on the alignment of already sanctioned roads may be sanctioned and tendered/awarded.
v. Revision of outlay to Rs. 83,977 crore from original outlay of Rs.80,250 crore.
Benefits:
The extension of the timeline of PMGSY-III will enable the full realization of its intended socio-economic
benefits by ensuring completion of targeted upgradation of rural roads. It will significantly boost the rural
economy and trade by enhancing market access for agricultural and non-farm products, reducing
transportation time and costs, and thereby improving rural incomes. Improved connectivity will facilitate
better access to education and healthcare institutions, ensuring timely delivery of essential services,
particularly in remote and underserved areas.
The continued implementation will also generate substantial employment opportunities, both directly
through construction activities and indirectly by promoting rural enterprises and services. Overall, the
extension will contribute to inclusive and sustainable development by bridging the rural-urban divide and
advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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