look news india
Dehradun. A big infrastructural gift has come from the Central Government and the State Government for the villagers living in the inaccessible and remote mountainous areas of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. Under the fourth phase of the Central Government’s ambitious ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ (PMGSY-4), the blueprint for connecting 309 untouched villages of the state with all-weather roads has been completely prepared. Under this mega-project, the technical and administrative processes of construction, widening and strengthening of 184 rural roads identified in different districts of Uttarakhand have been expedited on war footing.
Due to geographical unevenness, landslides and difficult rocky roads in the hilly areas, many settlements are still cut off from the mainstream. To transport sick persons, pregnant women and elderly people to the road, villagers have to resort to doli or dandi-kandi for several kilometres. The implementation of PMGSY-4 will not only end the daily suffering of the villagers but will also create new economic opportunities in the marginal and hilly villages facing the serious problem of migration.
The fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana specifically targets those remote hamlets and hamlets that were left out due to the population norms set in the previous three phases. Under the new rules set for hilly and special category states, now remote settlements with small population of 100 to 250 are also being connected to the paved all-weather road network.
According to the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by Uttarakhand Rural Road Development Agency (URRDA) and Public Works Department (PWD), the construction of these 184 major roads will directly connect 309 villages of both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions to national and state highways. These roads are being designed with modern safety standards, strong drainage systems, retaining walls and crash barriers so that approach roads are not disrupted even during heavy monsoon rains and landslides.
Under this scheme, special priority has been given to those districts which are strategically close to the international borders (China and Nepal) or where the geographical conditions are extremely complex:
-
Pithoragarh and Chamoli: Access to settlements located in remote valleys in the border areas will be facilitated, providing uninterrupted movement of border security forces as well as the local population.
-
Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag: The feeder network of Chardham Yatra routes and high altitude apple producing villages will be connected to the main mandis.
-
Pauri Garhwal, Tehri and Almora: Dozens of villages in the inner blocks of these districts most affected by migration like Thalisain, Rikhnikhal, Pokhra and Chaukhutia will be connected by paved asphalt roads.
-
Bageshwar and Champawat: Farmers and gardeners in remote areas of Saryu and Kali river valley will be helped to deliver their crops to the market on time.
A paved road in the mountains is not just a means of transportation, but it also acts as a lifeline. The Uttarakhand government believes that the laying of these 184 roads will bring revolutionary changes in the social and economic scenario of the state:
-
Expansion of homestay and rural tourism: With road access, tourists will be able to easily access untouched natural sites and offbeat destinations, which will open doors for self-employment in homestay, guiding and adventure sports for local youth.
-
Fair prices to agricultural and horticultural products: Farmers’ pears, apples, malta, kidney beans and organic grains will be able to reach Dehradun, Haldwani and the big Azadpur mandi of Delhi in time, thereby eliminating dependence on middlemen.
-
Health and Emergency Services: 108 ambulance service will now be able to reach the village directly, due to which precious lives can be saved by getting timely treatment in case of emergency.
-
The path to education will be easy: For primary and secondary schools, students will not be forced to pass through dangerous footpaths.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Rural Development has given strict instructions to construction agencies to use ‘Green Roads Technology’ without harming the sensitive environment of the Himalayas. Cold mix asphalt, geo-textiles, waste plastic and bio-engineering techniques to stabilize slopes will be used in the construction of roads.
For quality control, teams of National Quality Monitors (NQM) and State Quality Monitors (SQM) will visit the site from time to time and conduct lab tests. Apart from this, the general public has also been given the right to register direct complaints or feedback on the quality of road construction through the online ‘Meri Sadak’ app. A target has been set to complete the work on 184 roads expeditiously and dedicate them to the villagers within the stipulated time.