State Tops in Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

Bhopal: Out of 74 thousand 915 kilometres rural roads approved under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), about 63 thousand 212 kilometres roads have been completed. An expenditure of Rs 17 thousand 432 crores out of approved funds of Rs 22 thousand 871 crores was incurred. Madhya Pradesh tops the list in implementation of the scheme as per the status of expenditure incurred, among other states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

Under this scheme, the approval of roads was obtained with the help of ADB. ADB appreciated and awarded the state in 'Rural Road Project' for construction and good quality of roads. The state was honoured at the national level with the 'CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2016' for maintenance of these roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. This maintenance policy has been lauded at the national level.

The state government is making use of the plastic waste that is harmful for the environment in the construction of the roads. The state is playing an important role in keeping the state free from plastic waste through its successful experiment under the Swachch Bharat Mission. So far 800 tonnes of plastic waste has been made use of in the construction of nearly 1600 kilometre road.

The state government acquired an approval of Rs 19 thousand 362 crores for the construction of 15 thousand 424 roads (61 thousand 235 kms long) in the last 11 years (April 2005 to March 2016) under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana. Roads have been constructed for all eligible settlements selected with a view to provide connectivity to settlements with 250 populace, under the guidelines for
implementation of the scheme in 88 development blocks included in the Schedule- 5 out of 313 development blocks of the state. A large number of people belonging to the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and backward class community have been benefited.

The roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have facilitated the villagers from health, education, trade and particularly agricultural point of view. The agriculturists are now able to sell his agricultural produce directly at the Krishi Upaj Mandi and is benefiting from it. This has provided relief from mediators and also put a check on migration of the rural public to a great extent.

The construction of these roads has made the life of the villagers easier besides improving their standard of living and making them economically developed.-WTN