EMN
Dimapur, January 3
The Government of India is upgrading and constructing nearly 50,000 kilometers of rural roads across the country, with Nagaland set to get a sanction for Rs. 220 crores more under a rural road development scheme. The additional funding to Nagaland has been allocated under phase-II of the nationwide rural road development program, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-II. The fiscal is for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017).
The central government is said to have sanctioned funds for rural road projects under PMGSY-II to a number of state the scheme covers. Details about the funds meant for Nagaland for the project could not be obtained at the time of filing this new report.
It is understood that the government hopes to complete the second-phase of the scheme in 16 years or until year 2027-2028. This would include one year of upgrading, two-to-six years of maintenance, seven years of renewal and another five years of maintenance setting a 12-year cycle.
State-wise upgrade to states under PMGSY-II
No. State Amount (Crore)
1. Andhra Pradesh 2,285
2. Arunachal Pradesh 550
3. Assam 1,730
4. Bihar 2,465
5. Chhattisgarh 2,245
6. Goa 25
7. Gujarat 1,205
8. Haryana 1,000
9. Himachal Pradesh 1,250
10. Jammu & Kashmir 780
11. Jharkhand 1,650
12. Karnataka 2,245
13. Kerala 570
14. Madhya Pradesh 4,945
15. Maharashtra 2,620
16. Manipur 325
17. Meghalaya 490
18. Mizoram 195
19. Nagaland 225
20. Odisha 3,760
21. Punjab 1,345
22. Rajasthan 3,465
23. Sikkim 115
24. Tamil Nadu 2,950
25. Tripura 310
26. Uttarakhand 915
27. Uttar Pradesh 7,575
28. West Bengal 2,515
Total: 49,750
All said, the PMGSY is being observed to be losing its appeal in the policy framework of state governments, including Nagaland’s (see table). The length of roads completed by the state governments under the scheme has been consistently falling over the years, agencies have observed. For instance, only 24,161 kilometers of rural roads were completed during 2012-13, in comparison to the 30,994 kilometers of rural road during the previous year. This is a fall of 22.05%, a reputed developmental portal Projects Monitor has stated. In 2010-2011, 45,108 kilometers of rural roads were completed under the scheme.
States losing the road steam
State Length completed during 2010-11
km Length completed during 2011-12 km Length completed during 2012-13
km
Jammu & Kashmir 474 999.62 1411.10
Jharkhand 1599.25 1123.03 1236.74
Manipur 487.42 374.61 424.48
Nagaland 86 24.89 93.50
Punjab 622.72 71.76 325.54
Rajasthan 3019.47 450.78 2140.00
West Bengal 1385.20 1154.79 1171.67
Physical Performance
According to information this Reporter confirmed, a total of 91 habitations have been cleared for connectivity (with all-weather roads) since the inception of the scheme up to the year 2012-2013. The connectivity comes in the form of 3630 kilometers of road. This includes upgrades. Against this, the state of Nagaland has connected 90 habitations by constructing 2665 kilometers of road, it is learned.
Financial Performance
A project proposal valuing approximately Rs. 733 crores have been sanctioned to the State of Nagaland till June, 2012, it is learned. Out of the amount, Rs. 360 crores have been released so far to the state, the Rural Development ministry says. Out of this, the state of Nagaland has utilized Rs. 359 crore so far.
Factfile
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was launched on December 25, 2000, with the objective of providing all-weather roads to eligible unconnected habitations in the rural areas of the country. The roads would come with necessary weather control infrastructure such as culverts and cross-drainage structures that would be operable throughout the year.
The developmental schemed envisages connecting all habitations in the rural areas that have a population of 500 persons and above (as per 2001 census) in plain areas. The specifics of the Hill states (North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand), Desert areas (as identified in the Desert Development Programme), the Tribal (Schedule V) areas and in the selected tribal and backward districts under Integrated Action Plan as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs / Planning Commission, having population of 250 persons and above (as per 2001 census) are likewise.
