New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee meeting on Economic Affairs on Wednesday gave approval to the proposals of Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development for the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-I and II up to September, 2022.
According to reports, approvals were given for the completion of balance road and bridge works. CCEA also approved continuation of Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) up to March 2023.
The cabinet has approved construction of 32,152 km roads in far-flung areas of the country at a cost of Rs 33,822 crore.
"Areas that were not covered for road connectivity under phases 1-2 of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) or the Left-Wing Extremism affected areas and the tribal areas are going to be benefitted. Roads will be built through dense forests, mountains and rivers," Union Minister Anurag Thakur said while briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting.
Under PMGSY-II, upgradation of 50,000 Km rural road network was envisaged. Total 49,885 km road length and 765 LSBs have been sanctioned, of which only 4,240 km road length and 254 bridges are to be constructed.
An official release by Centre pointed out that majority of pending works under PMGSY-I and II are in the North-East and Hill States due to factors such as Coronavirus-induced lockdown, extended rains, winters, forest issues.
The government also said that the extension of time up to September, 2022 is being granted to help these states to complete the balance works.
Additionally, the Cabinet has also approved telecom connectivity in tribal areas by putting up telecom towers in 7,287 villages in five states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha.
With this, as many as 42 aspirational districts in these five states will get benefited from telecom connectivity, Thakur said adding that the government has decided to provide 4G mobile services in the districts with project expected to be worth Rs 6,466 crore.