BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has submitted a proposal of Rs 1,535.89 crore for developing 3,275-km length of roads, including 2,508 km in 15 Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).The Govt proposed to provide all-weather road connectivity to 1,212 habitations, including 907 in the Left-wing extremist- affected districts.The Centre has so far sanctioned road projects worth ` 10,267 crore covering 30,000 km in rural areas.According to the Rural Development Department, 21,250 km of the sanctioned roads has been completed and connectivity provided to 6,792 out of 8,867 habitations.Improved road connectivity has been provided in 3,314 out of 3,596 areas, each having a population of over 1,000.Although funds were sanctioned for 3,717 habitations with a population between 500 and 1,000, around 2,443 habitations were connected to panchayat headquarters by the end of August. Similarly, road connectivity has been provided for 1,035 out of 1,554 villages with population between 250 and 500.As per the 2000 estimate, 29,019 out of total 50,097 habitations of the State, having a population of over 250, were without all-weather connectivity.While the Eleventh Plan is coming to an end, the Government could provide connectivity to 7,681 habitations by July 2010 leaving out more than 21,000 villages, said the latest audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General.The massive rural infrastructure programme was launched in the last quarter of 2000 with a target to provide all-weather connectivity to villages having a population of over 1,000 by 2003 and habitations with a population of over 500 by the end of the Tenth Plan Period (2007).The target was to provide connectivity to 10,420 habitations, including 3,703 unconnected villages having population of over 1,000 by 2007. However, the Government could provide connectivity to 6,792 villages by August.The PMGSY programme is seriously affected by the Red rebels in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district. Connectivity needs to be provided to 465 habitations. Road proposals for 236 villages were cleared under the IAP programme. However, roads could be laid in only 35 habitations.
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