Suhail Dar
Eight hundred eighty-eight (888) kilometers of roads have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) since its inception in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said.
The Executive Engineer, PMGSY Anantnag speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that 888 kilometers of roads were constructed so far since its inception in the district. “In addition to this, the Government of Jammu Kashmir provided 64 kilometers renewal quota whose DLP had been over by 5 years. The total stretch of the roads macadamized during this year (2022) stands at 82 kilometers,” Er Syed Ishfaq Ahmad said.
He added, In the first and second PMGSY, 29 out of the total 247 schemes were incomplete which have been completed by the end of September 2022. Now in Phase III of PMGSY will commence soon. “Under Phase III, Anantnag will get four- two in the Dochnipora block and two in the Bijbehara block,” Er. Syed Ishfaq said.
The tendering process of these schemes is in process, once the allotment is done, the work will begin too, he said.
“The purpose of PMGSY is to connect the unconnected habitations, as per the 2001 census. Furthermore, we are awaiting the approval of the schemes under the census 2011 which includes 35 schemes so that the Department can connect more unconnected habitations,” Ishfaq said.
PMGSY Programme was launched in Jammu and Kashmir during 2001-02 with the aim to provide all-weather connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas with population more than 250 as per 2001 Census.
Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has sanctioned 3347 number of schemes under PMGSY-I in 12 Phases with a length of 18432.79 Kms at a cost of Rs. 119646.76 crores to provide connectivity to 2148 eligible habitations. Under PMGYS-II, 107 schemes were sanctioned with a length of 704.55 Kms at cost of Rs.790.49 crores.