Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Government of India has earmarked Rs 18,907 crore for the construction of 26,474 kilometres of rural roads in the financial year 2026-27 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and related rural connectivity schemes, setting an ambitious construction target that reflects the government’s continued prioritisation of last-mile connectivity in the country’s hinterland.
The targets and the implementation framework were reviewed during a high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Rural Development, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Rural Development, Rohit Kansal. The review brought together senior officials including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of State Rural Roads Development Agencies from twelve states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Telangana.
The review focused particularly on ensuring that the remaining unconnected habitations under PMGSY-I and PM-JANMAN are connected on a priority basis, with special emphasis on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group habitations, which represent some of the most geographically isolated and administratively underserved communities in the country. The Secretary directed states to fast-track the preparation of Detailed Project Reports, resolve execution bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of pending connectivity projects.
Progress under the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas was also reviewed, with states directed to maintain close coordination with implementing agencies given the strategic sensitivity of road infrastructure in LWE-affected districts.
The meeting placed considerable emphasis on quality and sustainability. States were urged to strengthen field-level inspections, enhance quality monitoring and ensure robust oversight throughout project execution. The universal deployment of the e-MARG platform for electronic monitoring of rural road maintenance was stressed, with the platform expected to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in post-construction upkeep.
For Jammu and Kashmir, which was represented at the review, the PMGSY targets carry particular significance in reaching remote border villages and tribal habitations that have historically lacked all-weather road access.
