New Delhi, Jul 10(UNI) In a step which will boost the rural road connectivity, the Union Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Nodi, on Wednesday approved the launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll at an estimated cost of Rs 80, 250 crore.
In a Cabinet briefing, jointly addressed by Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Santosh Kumar Gangwar, it was announced that the scheme involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
'Also, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the states.The scheme will also include Through Routes and Major Rural Links that connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals,' said Mr Tomar.
This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Roads constructed under PMGSY would also be maintained properly.
The Minister said it will entail an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore (Central Share-Rs. 53,800 crore, State Share- Rs 26,450 crore). The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for eight North Eastern and three Himalayan states (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.
The project implementation will take time from 2019-20 to 2024-25. This will be followed by selection of candidate roads based on the sum total of the marks obtained by particular road on the basis of parameters of population served, market, educational and medical facilities.

Construction of bridges up to 150 m in plain areas and 200 m in Himalayan and NE States proposed, as against the existing provisions of 75 m and 100 m in plain areas and Himalayan and NE States respectively.

The states shall be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before launching of PMGSY-III in the concerned state for providing adequate funds for maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY post 5-year construction maintenance period.
On progress under PMGSY, the Minister said a total of 5,99,090 Km road length has been constructed under the scheme since inception till April, 2019 (inclusive of PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II and RCPLWEA Scheme).
UNI AE ADG 1843