PMGSY, connectivity towards prosperity

PIB | Khagendramani Pradhan


06 Dec, Gangtok: A whopping amount of Rs. 723.13 crore has already been sanctioned, an overwhelming 1422.29 Kilometre stretch of new roads construction has been targeted while 329 uncovered habitations has been assured of connectivity by the end of completion of all the ongoing works on construction of roads. This has been the physical achievement as on date in Sikkim till the end of phase VII of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yozana (PMGSY) in Sikkim. Of the 901 habitations identified, only 81 is left to be connected, wherein 22 are with 250 plus while the remaining 59 have less than 250 habitations. If Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yozana (PMGSY) was envisaged to provide connectivity to prosperity, it has come true to some of the remote and far flung habitations of Sikkim as road approaching the villages has not only brought means of transportation, it has also made the life much easier. The program which envisages to covering habitations over 1000 plus, has been categorized into four slabs, inter alia 500 to 999, 250 to 499 and less than 250 for all the states.

This ambitious flagship program of rural road connectivity included under Bharat Nirman envisages executing the work with high quality workmanship and specification, as well maintaining to complete the entire exercise within a time bound frame work. PMGSY has not only focused on the construction of rural roads but primarily also given an insight into the arena of quality control, strict specifications for construction of a good road. It purposefully also enhanced the capacity building of all technical personnel involved in the project. To say the least, it primarily developed the capacity of the local contractors in the State both technically and financially. It has come of age and as an era of awakening into true learning and entrepreneurship for all those included in the project of rural road construction, in the state of Sikkim.

The introduction of the three tier monitoring system by the National Quality Monitoring, State Quality Monitoring & State Quality Control has undoubtedly improved the quality of work as well as enhanced the application of technical personnel and contractors alike. There has been increased literacy and capacity building and the program has engineered to create a class of confident family of locally skilled workforce in the State. Under PMGSY, roads have been constructed at high altitudes (14,000 feet) which invariably come as a blessing for all those people living in the high altitude difficult terrain. The opening up of the villages has improved the lot of the people and also raised the bar for an efficient delivery system in the Service sector, Health and Education.

The efficient delivery system will not only cater to providing necessary and essentials commodities of day to day lives of the people but also enhance the capacity for good governance in the many years to come. Village produce from vegetables to cash crops are easily reached to the major marketing centers which will allow for competitive pricing and the farmers eventually benefit from the efficient road network transportation system provided by PMGSY. Thus, the construction of Rural Roads under PMGSY has invariably opened up avenues in the remote areas making it easily accessible.

To conclude, it can be said that till the end of seventh phase of road construction, the program has indeed given a meaning to the idea of growth in the socio-economic sector as well the aspiration of the people. None the less, there are still more habitations, which though may not have significant numbers of population to fill up the criteria, there is an urgent need to provide them the much deserved road connectivity bearing in mind the hardship they are facing. (PIB)