Odisha plans widening of 9,400 km road.

In its bid to overcome the disruption of infrastructure development due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the State government is all set to fast-track the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana - III (PMGSY III) in the coming months.

Existing roads that have completed design life span of 10 years and connect habitations to rural agricultural markets, educational institutions and medical facilities will be upgraded and taken up for expansion under the rural road programme.

As sanctioned by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), 9,400 km of roads will be considered for upgradation at a cost of nearly Rs. 5,600 crore in all 30 districts by 2024-25. The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State. 

Once upgraded, the roads would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools and hospitals. Roads widened under PMGSY III would be all GIS-mapped and maintained properly for 11 years by the State government. 

Odisha government has planned to take up the scheme in three phases. While 13 districts have been selected in the first phase, nine districts will be covered in the second phase and the rest eight districts in the third phase.

Additional Chief Secretary of Rural Development department PK Jena said 3,327 km of roads already selected for the first phase would be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 1,996 crore. “We have started floating tenders for the projects after receiving approval from the Centre. If the tender process is completed by end of this month, we can complete 50 per cent of the work before monsoon,” he said.

Though Odisha had topped in the country by constructing 8,151 km of road against the target of 8,000 km under both PMGSY I and PMGSY II in 2018-19, the achievement till November this year was only 20 per cent and 30 pc respectively due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.  

“Construction activities have gained momentum after the lockdown restrictions were eased.  We hope all pending projects will be completed by end of the financial year,” Director Sudarsan Parida said.  

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS