The Central Government has sanctioned construction of as many as 233 roads across Jharkhand worth Rs 1396 crore in order to improve connectivity in the naxal hit areas. Under the scheme a total of 1753.77 km road will be constructed other than 71 bridges. The rural development is likely to execute the plan by floating tenders. The road infrastructure will be developed in the aspirational districts of Jharkhand.

The Union Ministry of Rural Development took this decision in the light of a proposal made by the Jharkhand government. The proposal of Jharkhand was approved at a meeting of the empowered committee chaired by Union Rural Development Secretary NN Sinha in Delhi on Tuesday. The secretary of the rural development department of Jharkhand Dr Manish Ranjan and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

These roads will be constructed under the Prime Minister’s Village Road Scheme. According Jharkhand rural development department 979.350 km of rural roads will be constructed under PMGCI Phase-3 which will cost Rs 630.65 crore. Similarly 774.42 km of roads will be constructed in the Naxal hit areas under the Prime Minister’s Village Road Scheme to improve connectivity. The Narendra Modi government has given approval for construction of roads through RCPLWE scheme. Under this, 125 roads and 71 bridges will be constructed worth Rs 765.42 crore.

In July the Hemant Soren government had submitted a proposal for construction of 1076 km of rural roads and sent it to the Centre. But the Center directed the Jharkhand government to improve the proposal hence a fresh proposal was sent.

Under the scheme schools, anganwadi centers, health centers and roads connecting to district headquarters will be constructed on the priority basis. Besides, roads will be co constructed in hard to reach areas for the development of such undeveloped areas.   The project will be centrally monitored.