JAMMU: In a decisive step towards enhancing rural infrastructure, the UT Level Standing Committee (UTLSC) meeting was today convened here under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, to review and approve critical proposals under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-IV (PMGSY-IV).
The meeting besides Principal Secretary, Home; Secretary, PWD; Secretary, Transport; Secretary, Revenue; DG, Budget; Engineer-in-Chief, was attended by other concerned officers from the various departments.
The Chief Secretary emphasized upon utilizing this scheme for expanding all-weather rural road connectivity to underserved areas across the Union Territory. He made out that the department should target speedy approval for all the surveyed roads.
Dulloo directed the department to prioritise these projects as per the Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) so that same receive early nod from the central government. He also advised them to ensure that the far-off areas get last-mile connectivity under this flagship scheme.
The newly launched PMGSY-IV initiative, approved by the Ministry of Rural Development, aims to connect rural habitations that are eligible due to increased populations as recorded in the 2011 Census. Spanning from 2024-25 to 2028-29, this phase promises to bridge critical gaps in access to education, healthcare, markets and administrative services by giving them access through the construction of all-weather roads.
About the criteria, Secretary, PWD, Bhupinder Kumar, informed that the PMGSY-IV has been structured to ensure inclusivity with population thresholds of 500+ in plains, 250+ in Hilly States/UTs and 100+ in LWE (Left Wing Extremism) affected areas.
He further elaborated that the cluster approach combines habitations within a 500-meter radius (or 1.5 km in hilly terrain) to qualify as a single entity for connectivity. In addition to sensitive border blocks, all habitations within a 10 km path distance are considered a cluster to address strategic and developmental priorities.
It was also revealed that all-weather roads under PMGSY-IV would ensure minimal service disruption with no more than 24 hours of blockage at a time and not exceeding six such instances per year. Roads previously constructed with just Stage-I formation under PMGSY-I, lacking essential pavement layers, will also be completed under the current phase.
Regarding the funding model, it was revealed that the share of Centre would be 90% with 10% UT share. The UT would be responsible for full maintenance for a decade post-construction.
