Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 23

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday directed officials to accelerate the execution of rural road projects under the federally funded Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), stressing that improved connectivity remains critical for economic and social development in remote areas.

Chairing a review meeting on the programme’s implementation, Abdullah assessed progress made under different phases of the rural roads scheme and reviewed plans for completing pending road and bridge projects across the Union Territory.

The CM called for the timely completion of ongoing works and instructed departments to address bottlenecks delaying execution, particularly issues related to statutory clearances and inter-departmental coordination.

Officials briefed the meeting on newly sanctioned projects, ongoing construction and efforts to provide all-weather connectivity to rural habitations.

Abdullah said rural road infrastructure played a transformative role in improving access to healthcare, education, markets and public services, especially in geographically isolated regions.

He directed authorities to maintain quality standards while ensuring projects adhere to approved timelines.

The CM also reviewed implementation plans under PMGSY-IV and asked officials to expedite preparatory work so that newly sanctioned projects can begin without delay.

Particular emphasis was placed on extending road connectivity to remote and border villages, many of which continue to face transportation challenges because of difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and senior officials from the Public Works, Forest and Mining departments.

PMGSY, launched by the federal government in 2000, aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected rural habitations across India.