Roads to Opportunity: Himachal Pushes for Special Package to Connect Its Most Remote Villages
For Himachal Pradesh, roads are more than just blacktop—they are lifelines. In the high-altitude belt of Dodra Kwar in Shimla district, where winters cut off villages for days, reliable connectivity has become a pressing need.
At a meeting in New Delhi, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh urged Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to provide extra financial support, technical help, and policy relaxations under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The focus was on incomplete stretches from Phase-I of the scheme, where harsh terrain and short construction seasons have slowed progress.
Why These Roads Matter
- Daily mobility: Villagers often struggle to reach schools, markets, and workplaces.
- Emergency access: Ambulances and disaster relief teams face delays in winter months.
- Essential supplies: Food, medicines, and fuel deliveries are disrupted when snow blocks routes.
The Bigger Picture
- Himachal has already secured 1,500 km of rural roads under PMGSY-IV, worth about ₹2,300 crore.
- Another 1,200 km proposal is in the pipeline, with Detailed Project Reports being prepared.
- Singh appealed to local panchayats and landowners to cooperate by gifting land deeds, since delays in land availability often stall projects in hilly terrain.
More Than Connectivity
Singh stressed that rural roads are about equal opportunity—opening doors to education, healthcare, markets, and jobs. In a mountainous state, infrastructure directly shapes socio-economic growth.
Union Minister Chouhan acknowledged Himachal’s unique challenges and assured that pending works in Dodra Kwar would be examined on priority, with coordination across ministries.
