The Centre has reduced the deadline for completion of rural connectivity through all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by three years from 2022 to 2019 and increased annual allocation to the states by Rs 5,000 crore.
Union Rural Development minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said that the government has forwarded the target date by three years from 2022 to 2019 to achieve complete rural connectivity through all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
He further added that the government has also decided to increase the annual allocation during year 2015-16 by Rs 5,000 crore and with this the total central allocation to states would be Rs 15,100 crore, while it was Rs 9,960 crore during 2014-15, Rs 5, 196 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 4,313 crore in 2012-13.
PMGSY was launched in year 2000 as a Centre sponsored scheme with the objective to provide single all-weather road connectivity to all eligible unconnected rural habitations. Under PMGSY-I, 1,78,184 unconnected habitations were identified. However, in 15 years of implementation so far, 1,12,550 habitations (63 per cent) have been connected with PMGSY roads. The States are yet to complete the roads to provide connectivity to about 37 per cent of habitations.
The ministry is also considering to financially incentivising the States who achieve the targets allocated to them, within the prescribed time frame.
We are working in collaboration with the States for preparing a time bound action plan to cover the outstanding liabilities for sanctioned works so as to meet the liabilities of all sanctioned works within 2016-17, he said.
The enhanced level of Central allocation to States for 2015-16 as well as the proposed allocation of the same amount for 2016-17 would help in providing connectivity to 29,000 eligible habitations.
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
