Govt clears Rs 38,500 crore of road connectivity projects

New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) The ambitious rural road scheme received a boost today with the government clearing projects worth an estimated Rs 38,500 crore to connect left out habitations including those in 82 Naxal-affected districts and areas of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh, gave "in principle" approval for connecting all habitations with a population of 100 tribals and above in 82 Naxal-hit districts with all-weather roads under the Centre's flagship programme PMGSY. In case of multi-connectivity at the block level, identified by the Union Home Ministry, it is not compulsory that tar-paved roads should be constructed in such areas where Maoists target metalled roads used by security forces. "What we are saying now is you can have four roads, but one of them will be a blacktop road," Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. He said the government has given "in principle" approval for covering unconnected habitations with population of 100 persons and above (as per the 2001 census) in the Left Wing Extremism-affected blocks (identified in consultations with the Home Ministry). The approval has been given with a limited provision to complete missing links, "to form closed loops from through routes of the core network at an estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore (at 2012-13 prices)," he said. At present, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 250 persons and above in tribal areas in Naxal-affected districts. The Cabinet also gave nod to connect unconnected small villages with population below 250 in strategically important districts of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China with all- weather roads. An amount of Rs 1200 crore is expected to be cost for providing new connectivity to the habitations in the border districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh said. Out of the state's 17 districts, 10 districts are bordering China and Myanmar and the small habitations in these districts will be major beneficiaries. PTI TGB SC