Bhubaneswar’s rural landscape is set for a connectivity revolution as PMGSY-4 was formally launched in Rayagada on Friday. The ceremony, graced by CM Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, marks a new chapter in linking Odisha’s hinterlands.
With ₹1,700 crore sanctioned, the phase targets 1,702 km of durable roads connecting 898 habitations across eight districts. The 60:40 Centre-state funding model will deliver 827 fresh road links, enhancing access in Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Sambalpur.
Majhi inaugurated multiple projects, from water supply to over ₹200 crore in infrastructure, laying foundations for 13 schemes worth ₹104.56 crore in Rayagada. In his speech, he stressed rural upliftment as the cornerstone of Odisha’s prosperity, invoking Vajpayee’s vision for PMGSY.
Remote districts like Rayagada and Malkangiri will see 442 roads, prioritizing the most isolated regions. Central assistance extends to housing with ₹630 crore and irrigation via ₹30 crore for watershed programs.
Thanking PM Modi, the CM launched ‘Mission Pawar’ to provide power, water, and roads to small settlements, backed by hefty departmental budgets: ₹34,104 crore for Panchayati Raj and ₹10,204 crore for Rural Development.
Echoing Gandhi, Majhi called villages the nation’s heartbeat, with roads fueling all-round progress. A robust three-tier oversight ensures construction standards, supported by ₹550 crore for upkeep and ₹150 crore for repairs. Ambitious goals include 9,700 km roads and 350 bridges annually.
Chouhan vowed to connect not just roads but emotions, promising universal basic facilities. He revealed upcoming agricultural expert visits and ‘Beej Gram’ initiatives for crop diversification and farmer prosperity.
Minister Naik lauded PMGSY’s 26-year legacy from Vajpayee’s era. Attendees included MLAs Appala Swamy Kadarka, Satyajit Gamango, Nilamadhav Hikeka, and top officials from rural development ministries.
