Gandhinagar: The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday approved a major infrastructure initiative to provide all-weather road connectivity to tribal hamlets that have never been connected under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, government spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said that as per the 2011 Census norms, tribal hamlets with a population of more than 500 in normal areas and over 250 in tribal areas will be covered under the project. Accordingly, 1,614 such hamlets located in tribal belts across the state will be connected for the first time with permanent all-weather roads.

The minister stated that under the PMGSY Phase 4 survey conducted in tribal regions, a total of 4,781 hamlets were identified, of which 1,614 have been selected in the first phase. Under this phase, around 2,020 kilometres of roads will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹2,600 crore.

Providing further details, Vaghani said the project will benefit over eight lakh people residing in 1,699 tribal hamlets, significantly improving infrastructure facilities and accessibility in remote areas. He added that verification of the remaining surveyed hamlets is also being expedited by the central government.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 60 per cent of the project cost will be borne by the central government, while the remaining 40 per cent will be funded by the state government, the minister added. DeshGujarat