Srinagar, Aug 08 (KNO): Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have recorded remarkable success in rural connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), achieving near-total coverage of sanctioned habitations.
According to official data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a total of 2,140 habitations were sanctioned in Jammu & Kashmir and 65 in Ladakh under PMGSY since its inception.
“Of these, 2,132 habitations in J&K and 64 in Ladakh have been connected with all-weather roads, taking the overall connectivity achievement in both Union Territories to 99.6%. The remaining 9 habitations (8 in J&K and 1 in Ladakh) are expected to be completed under the ongoing implementation of PMGSY Phase IV,” the reply reads.
This achievement is significant, given the challenging geographic and climatic conditions in both UTs—ranging from high-altitude terrain, snow-bound areas, and difficult road-building conditions, it added.
PMGSY, launched as a flagship rural infrastructure programme, aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations based on population criteria and strategic importance. In the case of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, many of the connected villages fall in tribal and remote areas that had remained isolated from mainstream development for decades.
The government has now launched PMGSY-IV, which came into effect on September 11, 2024, to address the remaining gaps in road connectivity, particularly focusing on habitations that have become eligible due to population growth as per the 2011 Census. This phase also emphasizes connecting backward, marginalized, and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe-dominated areas, especially in Aspirational Districts and LWE-affected zones.
In line with this, the Ministry of Rural Development has ensured that convergence is being achieved between PMGSY-IV and other inclusive rural development initiatives to maximise the impact on ground.
In Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, this integrated approach is expected to bring the remaining habitations into the national road grid, enabling better access to healthcare, education, markets, and administrative services for rural citizens.
The near-complete success in these two Union Territories stands as a testament to the government’s commitment toward inclusive growth, regional balance, and last-mile infrastructure delivery—even in the most difficult and strategically important regions of the country—(KNO)