Maha govt to launch scheme for construction of rural roads

Maharashtra Government will soon unveil its ambitious 'Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana' to construct about 35,000 km of rural roads in a span of seven years, which will cover tribal hamlets with small population.
State Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde today said the project involves 80 per cent upgradation and 20 per cent linking of roads, which will go a long way in giving a boost to rural infrastructure.
She said the project will be implemented in three phases and an expenditure of about Rs 5,000 crore is expected.
"The plan is to connect even a tribal hamlet with a population of 100 people. There are some rural roads, which have not been repaired after 1970s or 1980s," he added.

Presently, there are 1.35 lakh km roads in rural areas, the minister said adding that focus would be on research and innovation to ensure that the new roads are durable in the long run.
"About 10 to 12 kms road would be constructed in each taluka. Marathwada region and Amravati district (in Vidarbha) need better rural roads. The present schemes for rural roads are under Zilla Parishads. The new scheme will give the state government an opportunity to plan rural roads," she added.
Munde informed that the 'Smart village' concept will be rolled out in a month's time, in which 40 selected villages will vie for prize money ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore.

"The initiative is to make villages self-sufficient with management of own resources in technology, sanitation, renewable energy," she said.