Modi Government has more than once assured the State Government that it is deeply interested in spreading a network of roads in the State. Apart from usual budgetary allocations, the State is also the beneficiary of centre’s scheme called Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) during the current year. The Gram Sadak Yojna is different from other major projects of four-laning of the National Highway- A1 or the widening of link roads, and making of tunnels and bridges etc. Under this scheme the State will get assistance of Rs 873 crores for this year. In fact J&K State is one of the many States in Northern India that have been brought under the ambit of the PMGSY. However, in a recent communication, the State Government has proposed 487 new roads across the State and has asked for Rs 3600 crore for building these under the 10th phase of the PMGSY Scheme to the Centre.
However, there are some hurdles in the way of the State to derive full benefit from the 10th phase of the PMGSY. The new road projects worth over Rs 3600 crores have been put on hold by the Union Ministry of Rural Development (GoI) for want of utilization certificates from the State Government. Only recently the State Government has re-submitted the scheme to the MoRD. Also non-submission of Audited Balance Sheet for the previous financial year had also become a reason for the Government of India to put the new projects on hold. Even the physical performance of PMGSY road projects in J&K also remained poor during last year and for this National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) had indicted the State Government.
While we strongly support the action of the State Government of resubmitting the project of building new 487 roads in the State under phase 10 of the PMGSY, we would also like to caution the State Government that the State is harmed by not completing the road building within the stipulated time. We know the reasons why completing the roads in time is delayed but the State Government needs to find a way of overcoming the hurdles like difficulty of acquiring land, litigation, contractors leaving work half way and many other things. The State Government should conduct a seminar on the hurdles in the path of fast track road building process and find out a permanent solution to all the hindrances. The State cannot wait indefinitely for something that is crucial to its overall development.
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