By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: In a massive boost to rural road connectivity programme in Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has indicated that it would allocate Rs 1611.11 crore to the Union Territory under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during 2022-23.
In a letter, a copy of which is in possession of The Precious Kashmir, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has indicated allocation of Rs 1611.11 crore to J&K Union Territory in the ongoing fiscal.
The letter accessed by this newspaper has been written by the Union Ministry of Rural Development on April 22, 2022.
Of the Rs 1611.11 crore indicated allocation, the MoRD’s share would be Rs 1450 crore and Rs 161.11 crore is UT’s corresponding share, the letter further states.
The allocation for 2022-23 is based on the value of balance works /length as well as the trend of expenditure of the States/UTs of the last financial year.
“ The allocation of funds would be subject to upward/downward during the year 2022-23 keeping in view the pace of expenditure by the states and funds available with them,” the letter states.
Out of the central funding under the scheme, Rs 29 crore have been earmarked for administrative and travel expenses.
The UT’s share for administrative expenses would be Rs one crore for the ongoing fiscal, the communique further states.
The PMGSY programme was launched in Jammu & Kashmir during 2001-02 with an aim to provide all-weather connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas with population more than 250 as per 2001 census.
The Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned 3347 number of schemes under PMGSY-I in 12 phases with a length of 18432.79 kilometers at a cost of Rs 119646.76 crores to provide connectivity to 2148 eligible habitations.
Under PMGSY-II, 107 schemes were sanctioned with a length of 704.55 kilometers at a cost of Rs 790.49 crores.
