PMGSY Chintan Shivir: Focus on Technology and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure for Rural Roads

A two-day Chintan Shivir for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was organized on October 5-6, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The primary objective of the camp was to deliberate on the future action plan for strengthening rural road connectivity. The event saw participation from senior officials of states and union territories, policymakers, technical experts, and knowledge partners.

Over the past 25 years, approximately 8 lakh kilometers of rural roads have been constructed under various phases of PMGSY. Now, under PMGSY-IV, with a budget of ₹70,125 crore, the goal is to construct approximately 62,500 kilometers of all-weather roads to connect 25,000 eligible unconnected villages and habitations.

Addressing the camp, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, stated that new technology should be utilized more extensively to ensure connectivity for every eligible settlement. He emphasized the use of digital technology, GPS-based monitoring, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for field verification, monitoring, and rapid decision-making. He highlighted the need to complete ongoing construction work on time, expedite Detailed Project Reports (DPR) and the tendering process, and strengthen construction quality and accountability.

Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, pointed out the need for close monitoring of pending works in the Northeast and other difficult terrains. He urged for increased contractor responsibility during the five-year maintenance period and the adoption of green technology. Secretary of Rural Development, Shri Rohit Kansal, emphasized the rapid adoption of new schemes and digital tools to make the current system more transparent.

Experts from CRRI, NDMA, and CDRI discussed disaster-resilient and climate-friendly roads, sustainable materials, and AI-based digital monitoring systems during the camp. Additionally, experts from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) shared their experiences and technical solutions for road construction in challenging and difficult geographical areas.

The key findings of the camp include promoting climate-resilient designs, ensuring transparent monitoring through OMMAS, GPS-VTS, and data analytics, and strengthening coordination between the Ministry of Rural Development, NRIDA, and the states. The government aims to create quality and technology-enabled infrastructure to provide long-term socio-economic benefits to rural communities.