The State Government has proposed a road shelf of Rs. 1200.33 crore for submission to National Rural Road Development Agency/Ministry of Rural Development for approval of Government of India. This new proposal consists of 318 projects of 1874 Km. length of roads and 16 bridges.
Chief Secretary VC Pharka, in a meeting of the State Level Standing Committee (SLSC) on PMGSY, revealed that as per the revised funding pattern for Himalayan States, the ratio would be 90:10 between the Centre and the State. Himachal Pradesh will contribute 10 percent of the total allocation.
He laid stress on construction of quality roads to give connectivity to difficult rural areas of our hill state. He directed the finance department to release the State share as per new funding pattern.
Pharka said that during the current financial year against the total allocation of Rs. 180 crore, funds amounting to Rs. 97 crore have been received from Govt. of India so far against which an expenditure amounting to 143 crore has been made and department expects to spend over Rs. 350 crore by the end of March 2017.
He said that Union Ministry had taken a decision to complete the connectivity mandate of balance eligible habitations under PMGSY by March 2019. He said against the earlier target year of 2022, State government was committed to provide connectivity to all eligible habitations, provided land is donated by people.
Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Narendra Chauhan apprised that Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned a total of 14651 Km. roads for connecting 3734 eligible habitations having population of 250 plus during last fifteen years. Out of these sanctions, the State had completed 11,732 Km. of roads providing connectivity to 3415 habitations. The State had achieved 81 percent physical and 69 percent financial achievements.
