Rs 11,000 cr outlay for rural roads

A massive outlay of Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion) has been earmarked this financial year for laying of rural roads, a key component under Bharat Nirman programme.

The rural roads scheme envisages linking of every habitation with 1,000 population and above with all-weather roads. In case of hilly and tribal areas, the population limit is 500 and above.

Sources in the rural development ministry, which is carrying out the ambitious rural connectivity project through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, said on Tuesday that 66,802 habitations are likely to be provided connectivity by 146,000 km new roads, while 194,000 km existing routes are to be upgraded.

During the first two years of Bharat Nirman, launched in 2005-06, as many as 10,303 habitations have been connected by completing construction of 32,590 km new roads and upgrading 36,341 km routes at an expenditure of Rs 4,219.98 crore (Rs 42.2 billion) during 2005-06 and Rs 5,376.28 crore (Rs 53.76 billion) during 2006-07.

According to Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, a "three-tier quality monitoring system" has been put in place to ensure proper quality of construction. For ensuring people's participation, information is provided on boards installed at all work sites, he said.

Besides, for transparency in management of the programme, an Online Management Monitoring Accounting System and Technical Audit Systems have been developed, he added.

Apart from rural roads, the Rural Development Ministry is implementing two more components of Bharat Nirman - rural housing and rural dinking water supply.

Under the rural housing programme being implemented through Indira Awaas Yojana, 60 lakh houses are proposed to be constructed for the rural poor by 2008-09.

"This package is designed to substantially augment the rural infrastructural base wit the objective of reduction of shelterlessness in the country," Singh said.

He said during 2005-06 15.5 lakh (1.55 million) houses were completed, exceeding the target of 14.4 lakh (1.44 million), at a cost of Rs 3,654 crore (Rs36.54 billion).

During 2006-07, against a target of 15.3 lakh (1.53 million) houses, over 914,000 houses have been built at a cost of Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26.72 billion) and another 900,000 units were under construction.

Under Bharat Nirman package, 1,63,539 habitations and 1,12,965 schools have so far been provided with safe drinking water.