Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has set an ambitious target for the Rural Development Department to construct 30,000 kilometres of roads and 500 bridges in the next five years. This goal was outlined during a review meeting of the department’s programs at Lok Seva Bhawan. Majhi emphasised the importance of utilising 100% of the available funds to provide high-quality transport facilities to the people of Odisha.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for strict quality control in road and bridge construction, directing the department to take action against contractors and officers who fail to meet standards. He also advised constructing good-quality roads in hilly areas and conducting training programs to improve the skills of contractors.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Odisha has secured the fourth position in India by constructing 70,711.24 km of roads out of the 73,984.88 km approved. The fourth phase of the scheme focuses on tribal-dominated areas, aspirational blocks, and Naxal-affected areas, with a proposal to construct 942 roads and 8 bridges for 1,021 unconnected public settlements.
The Rural Development Department has made significant progress in recent years. In the financial year 2024-25, 4,500.30 km of roads were constructed under the Chief Minister’s Road Scheme, and 186 bridges were built under the Bridge Construction Scheme. For the financial year 2025-26, the department plans to construct 5,000 km of roads and 300 bridges.
The department is also working on improving rural infrastructure, including the construction of hostels, college houses, government offices, storm and flood shelters, and welfare pavilions. In 2024-25, 451 buildings and structures were completed, and provision has been made to complete 1,229 construction works in 2025-26.
This push for rural development is part of the state’s broader vision, as outlined in the “Viksit Gaon, Viksit Odisha” scheme, which aims to develop rural infrastructure and improve the socio-economic condition of rural areas with a ₹5,000 crore investment.
