Which government initiative focuses on improving the road infrastructure in rural areas of India?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Launched in December 2000, PMGSY is a nationwide plan to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations. The primary objective is to boost the rural economy by linking villages to markets, health centers, and educational institutions. By ensuring high-quality, durable road construction, the initiative reduces rural poverty and bridges the urban-rural divide. It is a centrally sponsored scheme that has significantly transformed India’s rural landscape through massive infrastructure investment.
Other Options:
- Bharatmala Pariyojana : A mega project focused on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across India via economic corridors and expressways.
- National Highways Development Project: A project managed by NHAI to upgrade, rehabilitate, and widen major highways, including the Golden Quadrilateral.
- Setu Bharatam Programme : An initiative aimed at making all National Highways free of railway level crossings by building overbridges and underbridges.