The Central Government today approved construction of 65 bridges in Jammu & Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), an ambitious rural road connectivity programme launched in 2000.
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has approved construction of 65 bridges during the empowered committee meeting to discuss the project proposals of bridges submitted by Union Territory of J&K under PMGSY-III for 2023-24.
“Subject to compliance of the observations/ recommendations, the empowered committee approved the instant proposal of Jammu & Kashmir,” read an order.
The project proposals involve financial outlay of Rs 367.56 crore, of which Rs 330.80 crore is Central share and Rs 36.75 crore UT share.
Under the PMGSY-III, Jammu & Kashmir has been allocated a target road length of 1750 kilometers, out of which 1672 kilometers were already sanctioned earlier this year.
The proposal of 65 bridges of 3625. 80 metre length was within the remaining allocation for J&K UT under PMGSY-III.
Meanwhile, the Rural Development Ministry has sanctioned Rs 36.65 crore for the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, (PMGSY), for the financial year 2023-24.
A circular issued by the Ministry on October 19 said the UT administration must transfer these funds to Ladakh Rural Road Development Agency (LRRDA) within a maximum period of 30 days from the date of receipt of these funds.
The circular also said in case of delay beyond 30 days in the transfer of the central share to the Single Nodal Agency, interest will be charged at the rate of 7 per cent per annum.
“In case of non-transfer beyond this period, Central Government may also be constrained to stop further releases,” the circular said.
The corpus of Rs 36,65,62,500 will be used for the construction of roads and bridges, district roads, and PMGSY roads in the Union Territory that shares its borders with China and Pakistan.
This is the first tranche of the first instalment of the Programme Fund of Annual Allocation 2023-24 to Ladakh under the PMGSY.
The Centre has, under the third phase of the PMGSY, targeted to construct a 500-km rural road network in Ladakh. (Daily Excelsior)
