J&K CM thanks Union Minister for extending PMGSY-I timeline till March 2027
Jammu, April 2
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Thursday, thanked Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for extending the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana timeline for the union territory till March 2027.
The office of Omar Abdullah's office said on its X handle, "Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Hon'ble Union Minister @ChouhanShivraj for acceding to the J&K Government's proposal to extend the timeline of PMGSY-I till March, 2027. This extension will significantly support the completion of critical rural road projects across Jammu & Kashmir."
The Centre had sanctioned a Rs 4,224.23 crore package for 316 road projects in Jammu and Kashmir under PMGSY for the fiscal 2025-2026, which was the biggest ever package for the union territory since the national flagship rural road development programme was started.
Under the PMGSY-IV programme, a rural habitation with a population of even 250 people will get road connectivity through a total length of 1,781.33 km.
The PMGSY was launched by the Government of India to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy.
The Government of India is endeavouring to set high and uniform technical and management standards and facilitate policy development and planning at the state level in order to ensure sustainable management of the rural roads network.
According to the latest figures made available by the state governments under a survey to identify Core Network as part of the PMGSY programme, about 1.67 lakh unconnected habitations are eligible for coverage under the programme.
This involves the construction of about 3.71 lakh km of roads for new connectivity and 3.68 lakh km under upgradation.
The objective of this national flagship programme is to plan, fund, construct and maintain rural roads in the country. It provides an All-weather Road with necessary culverts and other cross-drainage structures, which is operable throughout the year to eligible unconnected habitations as per PMGSY guidelines in the rural areas.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good step, but I hope the focus remains on timely and transparent execution. We've seen many projects get delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles and weather challenges in the region. The funds must reach the ground and be used effectively.
Over 4200 crores is a massive package! This will transform rural life. All-weather roads mean children can go to school, patients can reach hospitals, and farmers can get their produce to markets year-round. A solid foundation for progress.
As someone who has visited the beautiful valleys, I can see how vital this is. Better roads will not only help locals but also make tourism more accessible and safer. Sustainable development is key.
Connecting habitations with just 250 people shows real commitment to inclusive growth. In the hills, small villages are often the most isolated. This is about dignity and access to basic services for every citizen. Jai Hind!
While the extension is welcome, I respectfully question if 2027 is a realistic deadline given the terrain and past delays. Hope the planning includes robust maintenance strategies too. A road built is one thing, a road maintained is another.
Infrastructure investment like this is crucial for long-term stability and integration. It's
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