It is a well-known fact that the region possessing a good road network always has an edge over those places which lack this facility because this public infrastructure automatically leads to colossal development as roads help in making education, healthcare and other needs of daily life accessible. In this regard, the work done by the incumbent central dispensation is praiseworthy as it has focused on this issue by connecting more and more places through road networks.
In the same context, reports have confirmed that under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV, more than 10,000 km of road projects have been sanctioned to the States and UT of Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, reinforcing the commitment of the Department of Rural Development for Viksit Bharat.
Such kind of development is utmost necessary for a region like Jammu and Kashmir, which still have many places without road connectivity and the population out their suffers due to absence of this one of the basic necessity of the modern times because without roads commuting becomes a difficult job snarling development and keeping a good number of people away from basic amenities like healthcare, education, etc.
A place connected with roads witnesses many changes in the developmental front which otherwise are near impossible because roads have become a prerequisite for progress. It is laudable that considering the aforesaid fact, the government has taken this initiative for different states including J&K UT.
Reportedly under this phase of PMGSY, over 3200 isolated habitations will gain access to connectivity and critical services including J&K bailing out thousands of people from a life without access to vital services required in modern times.
It is pertinent to mention that under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – IV, 25,000 unconnected habitations of population size 500+ in plains, 250+ in NE & Hill States/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in LWE affected districts, as per Census 2011 are to be provided connectivity. The scheme aims to provide 62,500 Km of all-weather roads to unconnected habitations. Total outlay of this scheme is Rs. 70,125 crore (Central Share of Rs. 49,087.50 crore and State Share of Rs. 21,037.50 crore).
It is necessary that the sanction of the aforesaid roads should be transformed into real edifice because this will ensure inclusive and sustainable progress especially for places confronting difficult terrains like Jammu and Kashmir. Once realized, this endeavour will help in plugging the development gap by ensuring access to basic amenities and improving quality of life at places which were still unconnected and underdeveloped.
