Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday expressed joy as Odisha achieved the third position nationally for its outstanding performance in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and strengthening rural connectivity across the state.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Majhi wrote: “It is a moment of pride for Odisha to achieve the third place under the ‘Connecting Maximum Habitations’ category as part of the 25 years celebrations of PMGSY. I congratulate the engineers, officials, and everyone engaged in this work, which has been possible due to the coordinated efforts between the Centre and the state.”
Majhi also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for their steadfast support in advancing rural connectivity and infrastructure development across Odisha.
The national award was presented during the silver jubilee celebrations of PMGSY, held on May 10 at Sehore in Madhya Pradesh. The event, attended by Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Si
ngh Chouhan and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, also marked the launch of PMGSY-IV.
Official figures presented at the event showed that Odisha has connected 16,990 habitations through rural roads under the scheme, earning a spot among the top-performing states in the country. The state also ranked third in the category comprising North-Eastern States, Union Territories, and Hilly Areas, having provided road connectivity to 2,132 settlements in difficult terrains.
Another highlight at the event was the presentation of Odisha’s innovative ‘Bandhara Model’ at the Engineering and Technology Model Exhibition, organised as part of the national programme. This bridge-cum-weir structure, which integrates rural connectivity with water conservation, drew appreciation for its sustainable and multi-faceted design. The Bandhara system aids in regulation of water flow during the monsoon season and supports recharge of groundwater, which ensures availability of drinking water and irrigation facilities during summer months.
PMGSY has emerged as one of the flagship central schemes aimed at improving rural road infrastructure and ensuring connectivity to far flung areas and difficult terrains, in the last 25 years. Over 1.63 habitations across the country have been linked through the programme, vastly improving access to education, healthcare, markets and livelihood opportunities in rural areas.