Infrastructure – Rajasthan Emerges Among Top States in Rural Road Development
Infrastructure – Rajasthan has achieved a major milestone in rural infrastructure development by securing the second position across India under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for both road construction length and quality compliance. State officials confirmed the achievement on Tuesday, highlighting the progress made in strengthening transport networks across remote and rural regions.
Focus on Rural Connectivity Expansion
Deputy Chief Minister and Public Works Department Minister Diya Kumari praised the state’s performance and said Rajasthan has steadily improved its road infrastructure over the past several years. According to her, better road connectivity is contributing significantly to economic opportunities, smoother transportation, and improved access to essential services in villages and smaller towns.
She noted that reliable road networks are helping rural communities connect more effectively with markets, healthcare centres, educational institutions, and administrative facilities. The state government believes these infrastructure improvements are supporting long-term social and economic development.
Major Progress Under PMGSY Phases
During the last 25 years, Rajasthan has carried out extensive construction, widening, and strengthening work under different phases of PMGSY. Under the first phase of the programme, the state completed nearly 49,730 kilometres of roads. These projects provided all-weather road connectivity to 15,983 habitations across Rajasthan.
In addition to new road construction, authorities also upgraded and strengthened more than 14,000 kilometres of existing rural roads. Around 26 bridges were built during this phase to improve transportation access in difficult and previously disconnected areas.
Development Work in Phase-II and Phase-III
The second phase of PMGSY mainly focused on boosting rural economic connectivity. Under this phase, widening and strengthening work was completed on 401 roads covering approximately 3,468 kilometres. Six bridges were also constructed as part of these projects.
Under Phase-III, Rajasthan completed 950 road projects spanning more than 8,584 kilometres. These routes were developed to improve connectivity between villages and important public facilities such as agricultural markets, hospitals, senior secondary schools, and other key rural link roads.
Officials stated that these upgraded roads are expected to support agricultural trade, improve access to education and healthcare, and reduce travel difficulties for residents in rural districts.
New Projects Approved Under Phase-IV
The Government of India has also approved the first package of Phase-IV projects for Rajasthan under PMGSY. Financial approval worth Rs 2,089.37 crore has been granted for the construction of 1,216 roads covering nearly 3,219 kilometres along with one bridge project.
Authorities said tendering for these projects has already been completed and construction activities have started in several locations. The state government has set a target to finish the approved projects within the coming year.
National Recognition During Silver Jubilee Event
Rajasthan’s achievement was recognised during the silver jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The event was organised in Sehore district by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
During the programme, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan honoured several states for their performance in different categories related to rural infrastructure and connectivity projects. Rajasthan received appreciation for its contribution to road development and maintenance quality under the national scheme.
Officials believe the state’s continued investment in rural roads will further improve transportation efficiency and strengthen economic activity in villages across Rajasthan over the coming years.