Rayagada: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday declared that Odisha is poised to set a new standard in rural road development, aiming to eliminate long-standing hardships such as pregnant women being carried on cots due to poor connectivity in remote areas.
Majhi was addressing a gathering in Rayagada where Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally launched the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) for the state.
The Chief Minister stressed that the “double engine” government remains committed to holistic rural development, encompassing not just roads but also housing, drinking water, and livelihood improvements. He cautioned officials against any irregularities in construction, warning of strict action to ensure quality and transparency.
Majhi announced the state’s new initiative — ‘Mission PoWaR’ (Power-Water-Road) — aimed at transforming the rural economy by ensuring electricity, drinking water, and all-weather road connectivity to every small hamlet with a population of 50 or more. He highlighted that the 2026-27 budget has made substantial provisions: Rs 34,104 crore for the Panchayati Raj Department and Rs 10,204 crore for the Rural Development Department. The government has also allocated Rs 550 crore specifically for road maintenance in the current financial year, in addition to utilising Rs 150 crore in central incentives for repairing existing roads.
The Chief Minister added that the state targets constructing 9,700 km of new rural roads and 350 new bridges this year. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to build a prosperous and self-reliant Odisha by 2036, ensuring development benefits reach the most marginalised sections.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described village development as the cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). He underscored the importance of serving tribal communities, equating it to service to Lord Jagannath, and noted the visible progress across multiple sectors in Odisha.
Key Details of PMGSY-IV in Odisha
Under this phase, 827 road projects spanning 1,701.84 km will be implemented across eight districts at an estimated cost of Rs 1,698.04 crore. The initiative is expected to provide all-weather road connectivity to 898 previously unconnected habitations, significantly improving access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets, and essential services. This is anticipated to boost local trade, generate employment, and contribute to poverty reduction in remote and tribal areas. The funding will be shared in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the state government.
The eight districts covered in this phase are Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Sambalpur. A substantial portion of the new roads — 442 projects — will focus on the challenging and remote areas of Rayagada and Malkangiri districts.
The programme also included the inauguration and foundation-laying of multiple projects related to roads, rural housing, and drinking water supply
>> Three major drinking water supply projects worth ₹97 crore in Kolnara, Muniguda, and Rayagada blocks, benefiting 98 villages.
>> Foundation stones for 13 new infrastructure development projects worth Rs 104.56 crore in blocks including Rayagada, Kashipur, K Singhpur, Kolnara, and Muniguda.
Additional Announcements for Rayagada
Chouhan announced new agricultural initiatives aimed at increasing farmers’ income in Rayagada, including the construction of warehouses under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. He also highlighted projects worth Rs 630 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for rural housing and Rs 30 crore under irrigation schemes.
>> Rs 630 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (rural housing).
>> Rs 30 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development Component (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).
He expressed the Centre’s desire to develop every agriculture-based village in Odisha into a ‘Seed Village’ (Bihana Gram) to strengthen the seed ecosystem and support farmers.
Odisha’s Progress Under PMGSY
According to official figures, a total of 17,963 roads covering 74,725 km and 707 bridges have been sanctioned, with 17,760 roads spanning 71,742 km and 658 bridges completed so far. The latest PMGSY-IV rollout builds on this foundation and is viewed as a critical step toward inclusive and sustainable development in the state’s backward regions.
