Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III, more than 7.70 lakh rural facilities such as medical, educational and markets have been geo-tagged and the Ministry of Rural Development has released Geographic Information System (GIS) data developed for the scheme in public domain. The data also serves as a holistic national geo-spatial dataset, including urban areas, National Highways, State Highways and Railway tracks, etc.
Sharing the details in Lok Sabha earlier this year, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti stated that GeoSadak has been developed utilising fully indigenous GIS data layers and satellite data services.
Impact assessment studies carried out by independent agencies have concluded that PMGSY has helped in better access to the marketplace for the rural masses and generated employment in various forms, the minister added.
Removing poverty
It has also helped in improving the socio-economic condition of people living around the area, impacting agriculture, health, education, urbanisation, and employment generation in rural parts. Thus, she said, it has helped in removing poverty and unemployment.
Under PMGSYIII, according to Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, 99,319 km of roads have been sanctioned till March, out of which 64,331 km has been sanctioned using new, or green technology. Out of the sanctioned length, 18,983 km has been completed (till March).
New, and green technology economises construction cost of road as well as facilitates effective disposal of different industrial and municipal waste, along with conserving use of virgin mining materials. It also enhances the execution capacities and reduces the construction period in road and bridge works
