The State Government has urged the NITI Aayog to provide funds for construction of roads in all unconnected habitations in nine Aspirational Districts of the State.
The Government has identified as many 3,562 unconnected habitations in remote areas and decided to chalk out an action plan for connecting them with all-weather roads.
On the identified unconnected habitations, 2,390 are accessible by feet and cycle and 1,172 reachable by feet only.
Chief Secretary AP Padhi has written to NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant in this regard, according to sources.
Padhi mentioned that that road connectivity is a key component of rural development as it may ways for growth opportunities and access to public services.
There are 315 habitations accessible by feet and cycle and 205 by feet in Gajapati district. In Kalahandi, there are 558 habitations accessible boty by feet and cycle and 282 by feet only. Similarly, there are 318 habitations accessible by feet and cycle and 180 by feet only.
In Koraput, 32 villages are found to be accessible both by feet and cycle and 27 by feet. There are 422 and 146 habitations in Malkangiri that can be reached by both feet and cycle and feet, respectively. Nuapada has 81 and 11 such habitations, respectively.
Similarly, there are 386 habitations accessible by feet and cycle and 237 reachable by feet in Rayagada. In Balangir, the numbers are 84 and 24, respectively.
An action plan is being drawn up to connect all the unconnected habitations in a phased manner by augmenting budgetary and extra-budgetary resources through convergence, said Padhi in the letter.
He urged that the Union Government to provide relaxation in PMGSY coverage norms so that the identified habitations can be connected with roads.
Besides, he urged for provision of sufficient funds for development and maintenance of National Highways in order to check accidents.
All the expenditures relating to development and maintenance of National Highways are provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
The State Government has been compelled to provide funds for maintenance and repair of National Highways which are in a state of disrepair and causing inconvenience to the users.
Inadequate allocation of funds for maintenance and repair of National Highways affects road safety and increases the risk of accident, mentioned Padhi. He asked the NITI Aayog to take up the matter with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for release adequate funds for the purpose.