Bhubaneswar/Rayagada: Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to visit Odisha on Friday, May 1, where he will launch a batch of projects worth Rs 1,698.04 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV.
The event is scheduled to take place at IACR Ground of Barijhola in Rayagada, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in attendance.
During the programme, the Union Minister is expected to hand over the approval letter for these PMGSY-IV initiatives to the Chief Minister. The package includes 827 rural road projects spanning 1,701.84 km. Once completed, the roads will provide all-weather connectivity to 898 previously unconnected habitations for the first time. These new roads are also expected to significantly improve access to essential services such as schools, hospitals, and markets for residents in remote and tribal areas of the state.
Officials highlighted that the initiative will boost socio-economic development by enhancing mobility, promoting economic activity, and supporting the broader goal of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) through better rural infrastructure.
Odisha has demonstrated strong performance under the earlier phases of PMGSY. So far, 17,963 roads covering 74,725 km and 707 bridges have been sanctioned in the state. Of these, 17,760 roads spanning 71,742 km and 658 bridges have already been completed. The state recorded an overall expenditure of 89.45 per cent by the end of the financial year 2025-26 with the state securing 8th position nationally in PMGSY implementation, with notable adoption of innovative technologies in road construction.
PMGSY-IV, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024 with a total outlay of Rs 70,125 crore, aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to approximately 25,000 remaining unconnected habitations nationwide. The scheme targets the construction of about 62,500 km of roads during the period 2024-25 to 2028-29.
