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Nadia, October 13 (IANS) Residents of several villages, including Hijuli and Saguna, under Gayeshpur Panchayat in West Bengal’s Nadia district are expressing their satisfaction with the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The construction of new roads has not only improved connectivity but also boosted agricultural activities and increased access to essential services.
Local villagers say that the roads have brought about a significant change in their daily lives. Vehicular movement has become smoother, making transportation of agricultural produce and access to emergency services easier. Better road connectivity has made patient care faster and delivery of essential goods more reliable.
Speaking to IANS, Papul Biswas, a resident of a farming family, said, “The roads built under PMGSY are part of an unprecedented development initiative. If more areas in this panchayat are brought under the scheme, it will benefit even more people.”
Babu Pal, another resident, said, “The idea of ​​connecting villages to cities through roads was first introduced by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In the past, muddy roads used to cause major problems during the rainy season. Ever since the roads were constructed under this scheme, the situation has improved significantly. Ambulances can now reach patients without delay, vehicles no longer break down and the overall quality of life has improved. It has happened.”
Launched on 25 December 2000, PMGSY is a flagship rural development program of the Government of India. It aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations in rural areas, particularly to improve socio-economic conditions. PMGSY has helped increase access to education and health care, created employment in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors and enabled farmers to get better prices for their produce.
The government’s continued investment in PMGSY highlights its commitment towards rural infrastructure. For the financial year 2025-26, the program has been allocated Rs 19,000 crore, reflecting continued support to strengthen rural road networks and boost economic growth.
By August 2025, a total of 1,91,282 rural roads and 12,146 bridges covering 8,38,611 km have been sanctioned under PMGSY in all phases. Of these, 1,83,215 roads (7,83,727 km) and 9,891 bridges have already been completed.
–IANS
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