Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced a series of significant infrastructure and flood management plans aimed at bolstering rural connectivity and addressing recurring flood issues across several states.
The government will launch Phase 4 of the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, which aims to provide all-weather roads to 25,000 rural habitats. This initiative is expected to enhance connectivity and support economic development in rural areas.
Addressing the challenges faced by various states due to flooding, Sitharaman, in her Union Budget 2024 speech, highlighted the government’s commitment to providing substantial financial support. She noted that Bihar, which has frequently suffered from floods, will benefit from a comprehensive flood control plan. However, she acknowledged that plans to build flood control structures in Nepal are still progressing.
In response to Assam’s perennial flood issues, the government will provide assistance for flood management and related projects. Similarly, Himachal Pradesh, which has experienced significant losses due to floods, will receive support for reconstruction through multilateral assistance.
Uttarakhand, which has faced substantial damage from landslides and cloudbursts, will be granted the necessary aid to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The total financial support for these initiatives is estimated to be Rs 11,500 crore, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges and improving resilience against natural disasters.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’s fourth phase will connect 50,000 habitations having population above 250 in plain areas and 100 in special category states with all- weather roads.
The PM Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was first launched on December 25, 2000, by the NDA government led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The second phase of the program began in 2013. Following these phases, a new component, the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA), was introduced in 2016 to focus on constructing rural roads in areas affected by left-wing extremism. The third phase of PMGSY was launched in 2019.