The North News
Shimla, April 5
In a major push for rural infrastructure, the Indian government has sanctioned a series of projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) to improve connectivity across the hill states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Mizoram.
The Ministry of Rural Development has approved funding for long-span bridges and roads in these states, aimed at enhancing access to basic services, spurring economic activity, and bridging rural-urban divides.
Himachal Pradesh will receive funding for 21 new long-span bridges, stretching nearly 971 metres in total, at an estimated cost of ₹140.90 crore. This comes in addition to the previously sanctioned 299 roads spanning over 3,123 km and 43 bridges, backed by a ₹3,345.82 crore investment under PMGSY-III.
In neighbouring Uttarakhand, nine new bridges totalling 246 metres have been approved with a budget of ₹40.77 crore. These projects complement 212 earlier sanctioned roads covering more than 2,280 km, and nine bridges, amounting to ₹1,865.34 crore.
Further east, Manipur will see the construction of 41 new roads covering 280.97 km, with ₹225.15 crore sanctioned. Earlier allocations under the same scheme had approved 56 roads extending 502.24 km, with a total investment of ₹404.72 crore.
Mizoram is set to receive funding for seven long-span bridges covering 373.46 metres, with an outlay of ₹67.69 crore. The state had already been sanctioned 17 roads stretching nearly 488 km, at a cost of ₹562.70 crore.
The government said the projects are aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and will have a transformative impact by improving access to healthcare, education, markets, and employment. The projects also aim to boost trade and commerce in remote regions and further the goal of inclusive development.
By connecting some of India’s most geographically challenging areas, the rural road and bridge programme is seen as key to unlocking economic potential in the country’s hilly and northeastern states.
