Union cabinet approves Road Connectivity Project for extremist hit areas

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme named “Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas” to improve the rural road connectivity in the worst LWE affected districts.

The project will be implemented as a vertical under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to provide connectivity with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts, critical from security and communication point of view.  The roads will be operable throughout the year irrespective of weather conditions, according to a PIB release.

Under the project, construction/upgradation of  5,411.81 km road and 126 bridges/Cross Drainage works will be taken up at an estimated cost of over Rs 11,724 crore in these districts. The fund sharing pattern of LWE road project  will be same as that of PMGSY i.e. in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and States for all states except for eight North Eastern and three Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10. Ministry of Finance will have to allocate to Ministry of Rural Development Rs.7,034.72 crore for this project during 2016-17 to 2019-20.Ministry of Rural Development will be the sponsoring Ministry as well as the implementing Ministry of this project. The likely duration of implementation of the project is four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20.

The “Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas” is envisaged in LWE States including the 35 worst affected LWE districts which account for 90% of total LWE violence in the country and 9 adjoining districts critical from security angle as per the inputs and lists of roads / districts provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.