Bhubaneswar: Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has set an ambitious target for the Rural Development Department to construct 30,000 kilometers of roads and 500 bridges over the next five years. This bold vision was outlined during a state-level review meeting held on Sunday at the EIC Office conference hall in Bhubaneswar, which was attended by senior officials and engineers from all 60 divisions of the department.
The meeting focused on evaluating the progress of ongoing projects and setting clear targets for the financial year 2025–26. Minister Naik stressed the importance of completing all construction work within stipulated deadlines while maintaining the highest quality standards.
“Delays will not be tolerated,” he warned, adding that salary deductions and strict departmental actions would be enforced against officers responsible for any lapses.
A detailed review was conducted on various schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase 4 (PMGSY-4), under which the department has received national-level commendation for its outstanding performance. Districts such as Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada were specifically praised for implementing projects in saturation mode.
Under the upcoming Mahatma Gandhi Sadak Yojana (MMSY), the department aims to build 5,000 km of roads across 521 projects during the next financial year. Progress on 400 bridges under the Setu Bandhan Yojana and the construction of 253 government buildings were also reviewed. While Minister Naik expressed satisfaction with the overall progress, he emphasised that underperforming divisions must take immediate corrective measures.
Highlighting the state government’s commitment to rural development under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Minister Naik urged all officials to dedicate themselves to achieving these ambitious targets.
“The Rural Development Department plays a crucial role in enhancing the lives of Odisha’s rural population and we must ensure accountability and efficiency in every project,” he said.
To strengthen oversight, monthly construction targets will be set and closely monitored for each division. A specialised regional team will be established to track the status of delayed projects and enforce strict disciplinary measures against negligence, including salary stoppages and departmental action.
The meeting also featured updates from Commissioner-cum-Secretary Yamini Sarangi on project progress, while Executive Engineers-in-Chief Pradeep Kumar Jena, Prasanna Kumar Sahu, and Debendra Seth provided detailed briefings on various initiatives.
Senior officials including Sarbeswar Singh, Geetarani Pattnayak, Sanghamitra Satapathy, and other regional officers from all 60 divisions were present to receive guidance and directives from the Minister.
