Union Cabinet has given "in-principle" approval for the Rs 3600 crore project to be implemented in states of Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Gujarat under an ambitious rural roads programme, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here today.
The habitations having a population of 250, which were left out under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, will now be covered under the scheme in the states bordering countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Out of 1124 habitations, 527 are in West Bengal, 420 in Jammu and Kashmir, 127 in Punjab, 30 in Uttar Pradesh, 36 in Assam, 18 in Uttarakhand, 19 in Manipur and 14 in Gujarat spreading across 362 border blocks under 96 border districts in 17 states.
Approximately, 195 bridges and 4169 kms roads will be constructed under the programme.
The project will be launched once the Ministry gets the complete nod of the Union Cabinet, Ramesh said adding that the works for linking the left out habitats in the border states will be over two to three years.
"Cabinet has given in-principle approval for the project. These are left out habitations in border areas of the country. These habitations have been left out of PMGSY for some reason or other. They require new connectivity. We (the Ministry) have enough money (to complete the project)," he said.