Rajouri, October 27: In a significant move to enhance road connectivity in the remote regions of Jammu and Kashmir, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is overseeing the construction of a vital road in the hilly terrain of Rajouri district. This newly constructed road will establish a critical link between Chingus and Rani Badetar, offering essential connectivity to the area’s residents. Officials have confirmed that the road is expected to be completed within the next 2-3 days.
Engineer Parvinder Singh, representing PMGSY, provided key details about the project, stating, “This road spans a distance of 6.5 km, stretching from Chingus to Rani Badetar. The sanctioned cost for this road is Rs 1.30 crore, with an allotted budget of Rs 97 lakh. The construction work is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in the next 2-3 days.”
Local residents expressed their gratitude to the government for this essential road infrastructure, as it is poised to address numerous challenges they have faced for a long time. Prior to the road construction, the condition of existing routes was in a state of disrepair, leading to hardships for the local population.
Sanveer Singh, a resident of the area, praised the government’s efforts, saying, “Village residents faced numerous challenges due to the deplorable condition of the road. In far-flung areas, medical emergencies presented significant difficulties in reaching the hospital. The construction of this road not only addresses this concern but also facilitates students’ access to schools and colleges, which was hampered by the poor road conditions. Furthermore, the road’s construction has spurred economic activity, with many individuals investing in new shops and homes.”
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY-I) was launched in 2000 to establish all-weather road connectivity to previously unconnected habitations based on the 2001 Census data. In 2013, PMGSY-II aimed at upgrading selected routes and Major Rural Links (MRLs) with the goal of upgrading 50,000 km of roads across various states and union territories.
Subsequently, in 2016, the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was initiated to construct and upgrade strategically important roads in 44 severely affected Left Wing Extremism districts and adjoining areas in nine states.
In 2019, PMGSY-III was launched to consolidate 1,25,000 km of Through Routes and Major Rural Links, connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools, and hospitals.
Since its inception until July this year, PMGSY has sanctioned a total of 1,84,056 roads spanning 7,93,568 km and 10,082 bridges under various initiatives and verticals. Out of these, 1,70,857 roads covering 7,12,638 km and 7,264 bridges have been successfully completed. These endeavors are crucial in improving rural connectivity and fostering economic development in remote areas.
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