Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated on Wednesday that under the leadership of the double-engine government, efforts are underway to link small settlements in Uttarakhand with roads through the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), as per a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

According to the CMO, the department made significant progress in the last financial year, and now, in the fourth phase, the remaining settlements will be connected via Barahmasi roads. During the recently concluded financial year, 814 km of roads were built under PMGSY. Recognizing the state's development, the Government of India has allocated funds for constructing nine bridges approved in the third phase of the scheme.

The statement also highlighted that PMGSY in Uttarakhand spent approximately ₹933 crore in the financial year 2024-25, surpassing the financial target of ₹900 crore by ₹133 crore compared to the previous year, 2023-24. In terms of physical progress, 814 km of roads were constructed, exceeding the previous year’s achievement by 206 km.

On the last day of the financial year, the central government sanctioned ₹40.77 crore for the construction of nine bridges under PMGSY-3. CM Dhami further mentioned that 1,490 roadless settlements have been identified under PMGSY-4, and surveys for around 8,500 km of road construction have been completed in the first phase. The department has also initiated work on the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

To maintain quality, a special inspection app has been developed, allowing field officers to record inspections regularly. This helps senior officials monitor road quality efficiently. The initiative has been recognized by the Government of India, and other states have been advised to implement a similar approach. Launched in 2000 by the central government, PMGSY aims to provide road connectivity to remote villages. In the first three phases, most villages with a minimum population of 500 have already been connected to roads.

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