The Gujarat government has given the green light to a significant infrastructure project focused on enhancing road connectivity in the state’s tribal areas through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar. State government Spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani announced that 1,614 tribal hamlets, previously without road access, will now be connected by paved and all-weather roads.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 2,600 crore, will kick off with the construction of 2,020 km of roads. These tribal hamlets were selected based on specific criteria from the 2011 national Census, focusing on areas with populations exceeding 500 in normal regions and 250 in tribal areas. The primary goal is to establish essential connectivity in remote tribal regions that have long been isolated from road networks.
Minister Vaghani highlighted that this initiative falls under PMGSY Phase IV, following a detailed survey of tribal areas in Gujarat. Out of 4,781 hamlets lacking road links, 1,614 have been prioritized for the initial phase. The new road network is anticipated to benefit over eight lakh residents residing in 1,699 hamlets within tribal territories, improving infrastructure and easing movement, especially during the monsoon season.
The funding structure for the project was outlined by Minister Vaghani, indicating that 60% of the project cost will be covered by the Central government under PMGSY, with the remaining 40% financed by the state government. This endeavor forms part of Gujarat’s broader strategy to bridge infrastructure gaps in tribal regions and ensure equitable access to fundamental amenities.
