Bhubaneswar: To strengthen connectivity in villages, the Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new five-year programme to upgrade existing Rural Development roads across the State.
The Cabinet approved the implementation of “MMSY-Improvement to Existing RD Roads” scheme from 2025-26 to 2029-30 with an outlay of Rs 5,750 crore. Under the scheme, approximately 17,500 km of existing RD roads will be improved. The Cabinet has also approved completion of all ongoing projects under the programme during this period, Chief Secretary Anu Garg told reporters.
The objective is to cater to the increased communication needs in rural areas. The upgraded roads will provide better access to health and education facilities including hospitals, schools, colleges, panchayats, markets, tourist destinations, trade and commerce centres, and other institutions, she said.
The initiative aims to strengthen rural connectivity and improve the living standards of people in far-flung areas by linking them more effectively to essential services and economic hubs.
With Cabinet approval, the Rural Development department is now set to begin execution of the projects in a phased manner.
MMSY extended till 2030-31
The Odisha Cabinet also approved the extension of the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) for another five years till 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 4,000 crore over a five-year period to strengthen rural road connectivity across the State.
Under the approved proposal, the Rural Development Department will undertake construction of over 4,607.21 km of new roads and complete 115 km of ongoing road projects already being executed under the scheme.
Launched in 2014-15, the MMSY aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas that are not covered under any other road development scheme. The scope of the scheme was expanded in 2021-22 to include the upgradation and widening of existing Rural Development roads as well as roads transferred from the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.
Another proposal, ‘MMSY–Connecting Missing Road Links (CMRL)’, was approved for implementation from 2025-26 to 2029-30 with an outlay of Rs 1,917 crore. Around 3,850 km of roads will be developed, along with completion of ongoing works, including bridges and cross-drainage structures.