SHILLONG, JAN 29: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Monday reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – phase I, II and III in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the government had already directed the need to complete the implementation of the PMGSY-I and PMGSY-II within March 31, 2024.
“I am happy to inform you maybe only a few projects, which are very critical, we are still yet to reach the target point as indicated by the ministry but however, I am very sure within few months left, we will be able to complete it 100 percent the implementation of PMGSY-I and PMGSY – II,” he said.
Tynsong said the implementation of PMGSY-III is working well. “(Since the target set is only for phase-I and II), we still have space (for PMGSY-III) and the work is on and some contractors have already completed and some of them are yet to start,” he added.
Asked, the deputy CM said, “In fact I don’t have much record because PMGSY-I and II was being covered by the census and that census started from 2003-04 and 2005 when PMGSY-I just started in the whole nation where the villages, which are yet to be connected, the mission of the government that time was to reach out to all unconnected villages.”
According to him, as per census about 250 to 300 villages are still not connected.
He further added that with regards to PMGSY-III it is only for upgradation and recarperting of the existing state roads and this one the target is for 1250kms.
Moreover, the deputy CM said there is a huge backlog for the road sector. “Apart from PMGSY, again we have CRF, NESID, NABARD schemes and all, we are catching up to reach up to the zero level for road connectivity and that is the mission of the government.”
Tynsong also informed that not less than Rs 10,000 crore has been spent by the government on road connectivity during the past six years.
“From 2018 till today I think the investment we made as far as road connectivity is concerned is not less than Rs 10,000 crore. Can you imagine? And now this current financial year, we introduced one more mission and that is CM connectivity where we would like to see that those villages, which are totally connected, will create connectivity even in these villages and we are committed to that,” he added.
On the quality of road construction, Tynsong said, “The day one itself when I took over as minister incharge PWD (Roads), the mechanism is already in place to improve the quality and I instructed upto the junior engineer level that you cannot compromise as far as quality is concerned.”