The Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned another package for upgradation of 12 roads having length of 134 km and one bridge project at an estimated cost of Rs 152.38 crore.
With this, total 233 road projects having length of 1750 km and 66 bridges falling in the alignment of these roads, have been sanctioned for upgradation at an estimated cost of Rs.2245.46 crore under PMGSY III Programme for J&K.
The proposals for balance length submitted by the UT of J&K under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III), Batch-III of 2023-24 has been sanctioned on 16 February 2024.
The PMGSY programme was launched in J&K during the year 2001-02 to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations with 250+ population in J&K as per 2001 census.
Under this Programme, 2140 rural habitations were found eligible to be connected under this scheme for which Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned 3425 works including 239 Bridges (2741 new connectivity works and 684 upgradation works) under PMGSY-I and II for construction of 19049 km road length at an estimated cost of Rs 12565 cr.
Despite adverse working conditions, J&K has achieved 98.50 per cent of the sanctioned programme under PMGSY-I and II. 2118 habitations have been connected as on date, remaining 23 habitations are targeted to be connected by March, 2024. 17985.10 km of road length has been constructed under the scheme against the sanctioned programme.
Under PMGSY-III 521.09 km road length has been upgraded so far with an expenditure of Rs 11723.57 crore.
J&K has performed exceptionally in making progress and achieving goals under PMGSY since 2019 thereby constructing 9000kms of road length. Notably, J&K UT has consecutively ranked 3rd at the national level during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in terms of road length constructed in a year, said an official spokesman.