Considering the size of the country and realizing that road connectivity in this vast land, particularly in the hilly States was of immense importance to the economic development of the country, the Central Government, some times back floated a huge programme called Prime Minister’s Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). The essential purpose of this scheme was to connect rural India with main roads and Highways so that benefits of infrastructural and other developments reach the rural India. After all connectivity is the key to development. In this context with the changed fund sharing pattern, the total annual financial inflow to PMGSY for the year 2016-17 is Rs 27000 crore including share of Rs 8000 crore for the States in the country. Although this looks a massive allocation yet in fact for the quantum of work that needs to be done and the roads that need to be not only built but upgraded and maintained, it is not too big a sum. Nevertheless, the common sense is that one has to make the best of what is available to one.
Our State is also among the beneficiaries of this scheme and has received its normal share of funding for the purpose. However, during the performance review committee meet held in New Delhi, it was not happy with the performance of the scheme during first quarter in J&K. It was pointed out that against the annual target of 1050 km road length to be achieved during the year 2016-17, the State has reported to have completed just 15.05 kms up to May 2016, which is bare 1% of the annual target. We are not told what are the reasons of such a slow progress on the scheme and the consequences of this incredible lethargy.
This notwithstanding, we have learnt that Union Ministry of Rural Department in a communiqué to the Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Roads and Buildings Department, J&K has conveyed that the Ministry has approved project proposals under PMGSY-I (Phase X), worth Rs 2842.32 crore. The approved package not only covers the projects under new road connectivity, but 86 existing roads having total length of 787 kms with the cost of Rs 837 crore have also been cleared for up-gradation. Under new connectivity scheme, 303 roads under Stage I with the cost of Rs 1474. 35 crore and 124 roads under Stage II with the cost of Rs 479.34 crore, will be taken up for construction. In its formal communication, the Union Ministry for Rural Development has mentioned the location or site, length and the cost of construction etc. very clearly. From these details, it is evident that the identified roads either for new construction or for upgrading are all, by and large, situated in the hilly areas of the State. As such, these are of much importance to the State and crucial to the development of these backward areas. The Central share in the total project would be worth Rs 2558.09 crore while rest of the amount will be the State share.
This is good news and we have to be thankful to the Centre for caring for our State. However, there is a nagging question. Why our State is not able to complete centrally sponsored projects in time and why inordinate delays take place? Delays mean escalation in the cost of the project. That should not happen. We learn that after modifying the original PMGSY plan, the Central Government has advanced the completion of the plans from March 2022 to March 2019 and conveyed the same to the State Government. This means that the PMGSY has to be completed by our State in just two and a half years. Keeping this schedule in sight, it is obvious that the State Government particular the R&B Department has not a single day to waste. The work on roads and bridges should begin now and then only can the time frame be kept. We hope that the State authorities will understand the delicacy of the situation. Since an amount of Rs 2842 crore has been cleared for just one phase (10th under Stage I and Stage II), it can be presumed that there will not be any delay or technical hitch in regular flow of money for the completion of the schemes. Consequently, the authorities will not have any pretext behind which they will take shelter for not bringing the work to completion in time.
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