Himachal Pradesh Accelerates Rural Connectivity with PMGSY-III Success

Himachal Pradesh has made significant progress under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III, with the state Public Works Department (PWD) securing approval for the construction of 3,123 km of rural roads and 43 bridges, at an estimated cost of ₹3,345.81 crore.

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh stated that the department has taken proactive steps to accelerate project execution. As of now, 517.334 km of roadwork has been completed, with an expenditure of ₹802.59 crore—highlighting the department’s strong commitment to improving rural connectivity on schedule. For the financial year 2024–25, Himachal Pradesh exceeded expectations by spending ₹905 crore under PMGSY, well above the allocated ₹650 crore.

Encouraged by this performance, the state government has formally requested the central government to double its allocation to ₹1,300 crore for the financial year 2025–26 to sustain the momentum in infrastructure development.

Looking ahead, the state is actively preparing for PMGSY-IV. Mapping has been completed for 1,560 habitations, of which 1,115 have been deemed eligible by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Out of these, 862 habitations—including 102 under Stage I—have already received approval. Following a key meeting with the Union Minister for Rural Development on April 30, a high-level team from the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) visited Shimla.

The NRIDA team held detailed discussions with PWD officials and assured that 247 previously rejected habitations would be re-evaluated individually after proper verification. Minister Singh confirmed that land availability has already been established for 151 of these habitations and urged for their expedited approval. Once cleared, the state plans to prepare approximately 250 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), covering around 1,400 km of rural roads under PMGSY-IV.

The initiative is being implemented on a fast-track basis, aiming to deliver timely results and strengthen last-mile connectivity in rural areas.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.