February 19th 2025.
In the bustling city of Bhubaneswar, the Assembly was abuzz with discussions about the state of road connectivity in Odisha. Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik took the floor to address the pressing issue at hand. In response to a question posed by BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathy, Naik revealed that a staggering 8,300 villages in Odisha lack road connectivity.
Out of the total of 59,971 villages in the state, Naik stated that road connectivity has been established in 51,671 villages through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and other state-sponsored initiatives. He further explained that the remaining 8,300 villages have not been able to benefit from these schemes as they do not meet the eligibility criteria.
However, there is hope on the horizon as the Cabinet has recently approved the PMGSYIV scheme, which aims to provide road connectivity to all unconnected villages in the country. A survey is currently underway in various states, including Odisha, to identify these remote villages and provide them with the much-needed infrastructure.
When asked for exact numbers on the villages and hamlets without all-weather roads, the Minister informed that the data will be available after the completion of the survey. According to the data provided by Naik, Koraput district has the highest number of unconnected habitations with 1,374, followed by Rayagada and Nabarangpur.
The lack of road connectivity in these villages not only hinders the development of the region but also poses a significant challenge for the residents in terms of accessibility and connectivity. The government's efforts to bridge this gap through various schemes and initiatives are commendable and will undoubtedly improve the lives of those living in these remote areas.
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