HP Cabinet: ₹3,345 Crore Sanctioned for 3,123 km of Roads and 43 Bridges Under PMGSY-III

Shimla, May 6: Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh announced on Tuesday that Himachal Pradesh has made significant strides under Phase III of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Centre has approved ₹3,345 crore for the construction of 3,123 kilometers of rural roads and 43 bridges across the state.

Singh stated that the Public Works Department (PWD) is actively working to expedite these projects. So far, 517.334 kilometers of roads have been completed at a cost of ₹802.59 crore. He emphasized that this progress reflects the department’s commitment to strengthening rural connectivity and completing infrastructure projects within set timelines.

During the financial year 2024–25, the state spent ₹905 crore under PMGSY, exceeding the allocated budget of ₹650 crore. In recognition of the department’s strong performance, the state government has requested the Centre to raise the budget allocation to ₹1,300 crore for the 2025–26 financial year.

Singh also mentioned that the department is making proactive progress on PMGSY Phase IV. Mapping has been completed for 1,560 rural habitations, of which 1,115 have been deemed eligible by the Ministry of Rural Development. Approvals have already been granted for 862 habitations, including 102 under Phase I.

Following a meeting with the Union Rural Development Minister on April 30, 2025, a high-level team from the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) visited Shimla on May 2–3. The team held detailed discussions with PWD officials and assured that previously rejected proposals for 247 habitations would be reconsidered after field verification.

The minister noted that land is currently available for 151 of those habitations and requested swift approval for them. Once the state completes the approval process, it will be able to prepare around 250 detailed project reports, encompassing approximately 1,400 kilometers of rural roads. Singh assured that these projects would be executed in a time-bound manner.