Bridges On Rural Roads Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna - Lessons Learnt

Abstract

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December 2000 as fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country. The program envisages connecting all habitation with a population of 500 persons and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill states, tribal and desert areas. Under this scheme, small cross drainage works were taken up initially to ensure connectivity. Subsequently, it was required to construct long span bridges to improve connectivity to few habitations. The present work includes the necessity and suitability of the site for construction of bridges. It was found based on inspection that at some locations, the bridges are either missing, damaged due to structural distress or inadequate from design considerations. It was recommended based on the study that some of the bridges were required, some to be repaired to extend the life span and some not required. It was felt that knowledge dissemination is required to enable policy makers take appropriate technical decisions to save time and money in constructing such infrastructure for sustained development of the country.