PM Gram Sadak Yojana 4.0 in Bihar:
Opportunities for Road Contractors

The central government launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase 4 (PMGSY-IV) in August 2024, with a target of connecting 25,000 unconnected habitations across India through all-weather roads. Bihar — with a large rural population and significant numbers of still-unconnected habitations — is one of the priority states under this phase. For road contractors in Bihar, PMGSY-IV represents a substantial pipeline of new work over the next 3–4 years.

What is PMGSY-IV?

PMGSY-IV is the fourth phase of India's flagship rural connectivity programme. The programme funds construction of all-weather roads connecting eligible rural habitations (those with population above threshold, currently 250 persons in plain areas and 100 persons in hilly/tribal areas). Bihar's Rural Works Department (RWD) is the State Implementation Agency (SIA) and the principal agency responsible for implementation, tendering, and supervision.

The central-state funding ratio for PMGSY is 60:40 (Central:State). Funds flow from Ministry of Rural Development to Bihar state government, and then to the implementing division through the Bihar Rural Road Development Agency (BRRDA).

Scale of PMGSY Work in Bihar

Bihar has consistently been among the top states in PMGSY road construction. Under earlier phases, over 1.2 lakh kilometres of rural roads were constructed or upgraded in Bihar. PMGSY-IV targets further closing the connectivity gap, with particular focus on habitations in Seemanchal, Tirhut, and the Kosi-affected flood plains where road infrastructure remains weakest.

Individual PMGSY road packages range from approximately ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore per road, making them accessible to mid-sized contractors. Package clustering (grouping multiple roads under a single contract) sometimes raises the individual contract value higher.

Technical Standards Under PMGSY

PMGSY roads are built to Rural Roads Manual (IRC:SP:72) standards. Key technical specifications:

• Road width: 3.75m carriageway (single lane) for up to 250 vehicles/day; 5.5m for higher traffic
• Pavement design: Granular Sub-Base (GSB), Water Bound Macadam (WBM) or Wet Mix Macadam (WMM), and Bituminous Surface Dressing (SD) or Bituminous Macadam (BM) + SDBC
• Cross drainage: Hume pipe culverts, slab culverts, or vented causeways as terrain requires
• Camber: 3% for bituminous surface, 4% for gravel surface
• Material specifications: Same as MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) specifications for rural roads

Tendering Through OMMAS

PMGSY works are tendered through the Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS) — the dedicated PMGSY procurement portal at omms.nic.in. Contractors must register on OMMAS (separate from state e-procurement portals) and obtain a DSC. Bids for PMGSY works are submitted, evaluated, and tracked entirely through this system.

Key OMMAS registration requirements: PMGSY contractor registration certificate from Bihar RWD, company PAN and GST, financial capacity documents, and experience of similar road works.

5-Year Maintenance Obligation

A key feature of all PMGSY contracts is the mandatory 5-year post-construction maintenance obligation. The contractor is responsible for maintaining the road for 5 years after completion, and 40% of the contract value is retained as Maintenance Security during this period (released in tranches as maintenance obligations are met). Factor this into your bid — you need the cash flow capacity to handle both construction and 5-year maintenance simultaneously as your portfolio grows.

How to Position for PMGSY-IV Contracts

• Register on OMMAS now if you are not already registered — registration processing takes 2–4 weeks
• Complete any pending PMGSY works from earlier phases to a good quality standard — the QA rating on past works affects new bid eligibility
• Build relationships with reliable material suppliers early — PMGSY road sites are often remote, and supply chain failures on a tight PMGSY timeline are costly
• Plan for monsoon season blackout (June–September) in your project programme — PMGSY contracts typically allow for monsoon suspension periods
• Attend Bihar BRRDA briefings and district-level contractor meetings — these provide early intelligence on upcoming package lists