Maharashtra Cabinet approves plan to build farm-to-farm motorable roads

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a scheme to construct all-weather motorable connectivity roads connecting agricultural areas in rural parts of the state.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, December 7, an official statement said.

The ‘Mukhyamantri Baliraja Shet-Panand Raste Yojana’ allows 100% mechanized construction, replacing earlier limitations under the MNREGA framework, where reliance on manual labor had slowed down execution in many areas.

The scheme will ensure all-weather motorable roads from farm to farm in rural Maharashtra, the statement said.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who will head the monitoring committee of the scheme, said farmers have faced persistent challenges with damaged or inaccessible roads during the monsoon, affecting crop sowing, harvesting and transportation.

The scheme provides for 100% utilization of machinery for quick and quality construction. There will be no dependence on the availability of physical labour.

Other highlights include exemption from survey fees, measurement fees and police settlement expenses and exemption from royalty on soil, sand, gravel and stones required for road work, the statement said.

It also mandates tree plantation on both sides of the road and introduces cluster-based tender in 25-km packages to speed up implementation.

The statement said that the scheme will be launched in all the districts of Maharashtra and will be monitored by a high-level committee headed by the Revenue Minister.