Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Odisha has achieved third place in the country in terms of rural connectivity. The Union Ministry of Rural Development has acknowledged the state’s excellent performance in carrying out the flagship rural road initiative. The award was given out on May 10 at PMGSY’s 25th anniversary festivities in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present at the function.
Odisha is among the top-performing states in the nation, with 16,990 habitations linked under PMGSY, according to official data given at the occasion. Due to the provision of road connection to 2,132 communities in challenging terrain, the state also placed third in the category that included North-Eastern States, Union Territories, and Hilly Areas. PMGSY has been one of the main initiatives for enhancing rural road infrastructure and guaranteeing all-weather access to isolated communities during the last 25 years. Through the initiative, more than 1.63 lakh habitations in India have been connected, greatly enhancing rural communities’ access to markets, healthcare, education, and employment prospects.
The presentation of Odisha’s inventive “Bandhara Model” during the Engineering and Technology Model Exhibition, which was held as part of the national program, was one of the event’s main highlights. The bridge-cum-weir construction received praise for its sustainable and multipurpose design, which combines rural connectivity with water conservation. In order to guarantee the supply of drinking water and irrigation facilities throughout the summer, the Bandhara system facilitates groundwater recharge and helps control river water flow during the monsoon season.
Rabi Narayan Naik, the Odisha Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Drinking Water, stated that the state government’s persistent efforts to improve rural infrastructure are reflected in the honor. In the upcoming years, he continued, Odisha would continue to prioritize comprehensive rural development through enhanced connectivity and water conservation programs.
