New Delhi /Sehore : Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday launched PMGSY-IV during the silver jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Bhairunda of Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district. The event witnessed the announcement of major road, housing and rural infrastructure projects for the state.
The programme, organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development, was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Shri Kamlesh Paswan, state minister Shri Karan Singh Verma, legislators and senior officials from the Centre and the state government.
Launching PMGSY-IV, Shri Chouhan said rural roads are not merely means of transportation but gateways to prosperity, education, healthcare, markets and opportunities. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government is committed to bringing visible and meaningful changes in the lives of villagers, farmers, women and the poor.
Praising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Chouhan said India is rapidly progressing towards becoming a prosperous, self-reliant and developed nation. He added that the government’s rural development initiatives are aimed at ensuring that the benefits of development reach the last person in society.
During the event, Madhya Pradesh received approval under PMGSY-IV for 973 roads spanning 2,117.52 kilometres with an estimated cost of ₹1,763.08 crore. These projects are expected to benefit 987 habitations and significantly improve rural connectivity across the state.
The Vidisha parliamentary region separately received approval for 259 roads covering 600.393 kilometres, benefiting 264 habitations. Shri Chouhan announced that roads worth over ₹500 crore would be constructed in the Vidisha constituency and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that no village remains deprived of road connectivity.
He further assured that all eligible roads in Madhya Pradesh meeting PMGSY norms and criteria would receive approval. Referring to various development demands raised by public representatives and local residents, Shri Chouhan said practical and concrete decisions would be taken after due consideration.
Under the PM-JANMAN initiative, Madhya Pradesh also received approval for road projects covering 384.34 kilometres at a cost of ₹261.81 crore, which are expected to benefit 168 habitations, particularly in backward and underserved areas.
Additionally, the state received ₹830 crore out of the total indicative allocation of ₹18,907 crore announced for PMGSY during the financial year 2026-27. Shri Chouhan described the allocation as a major step towards accelerating rural infrastructure development in Madhya Pradesh.
The Union Minister also handed over a mother sanction worth ₹2,055 crore to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). He said the government remains committed to ensuring that no poor family is left without a permanent house.
Shri Chouhan informed that eligible families identified through a fresh survey would undergo physical verification and receive benefits under the housing scheme. He reiterated the government’s resolve to fulfil the dream of permanent housing for every poor family.
Emphasising women’s empowerment, Shri Chouhan said the Lakhpati Didi campaign would be expanded further through self-help groups across the country. He stated that the government is committed to strengthening women’s financial independence, dignity and self-reliance through income-generation initiatives.
On issues concerning farmers, the Union Agriculture Minister assured that no eligible farmer would face injustice during wheat procurement operations. He said pending verification processes would be completed and procurement ensured without discrimination. He also indicated that efforts are underway to create a more beneficial and farmer-friendly framework for land acquisition.
Speaking emotionally during the programme, Shri Chouhan said he would continue working tirelessly for the service of the people and development of the region throughout his life.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav praised Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and said the Madhya Pradesh government is working in close coordination with the Centre to fulfil public demands and strengthen regional development. He assured that no effort would be spared in addressing the aspirations and developmental needs of the people.
The programme also featured discussions on several regional development demands, including supply of Narmada water to remaining villages, local road approvals, land lease distribution, educational institutions, temple area development and irrigation projects. Both Shri Chouhan and Dr. Mohan Yadav assured a coordinated and supportive approach towards these issues.
Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said PMGSY has transformed rural India over the past 25 years by improving access to education, healthcare, employment and markets. He added that PMGSY-IV would further strengthen connectivity in remote and backward regions while enhancing the rural economy and quality of life.
During the event, several states were honoured for their performance under PMGSY over the last 25 years.
In the category of highest road length completed, Madhya Pradesh secured first place with 90,766 kilometres of roads constructed, followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
For connecting the highest number of habitations, Bihar secured first place, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Gujarat topped the category for maximum use of green technology in rural road construction, followed closely by Tamil Nadu and Haryana.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were recognised for outstanding expenditure on maintenance of rural roads, while Madhya Pradesh secured first place in quality control mechanisms.
Among North-Eastern, hill states and Union Territories, Assam was honoured for completing the highest road length and connecting the highest number of habitations. Uttarakhand was recognised for maximum use of green technology, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh and Puducherry jointly secured top honours in quality control systems.
The programme marked both the completion of 25 years of PMGSY and the formal launch of PMGSY-IV, which the government described as a major step towards expanding durable, technology-driven and future-ready rural connectivity infrastructure across India.