Bhubaneswar: Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik informed the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday that 5,197 villages and hamlets in the state do not have all-weather road connectivity.
Responding to a query from BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera, Minister Naik stated that these unconnected villages and hamlets were identified through a survey conducted by gram panchayats and panchayat samitis in 2024-25.
According to the data shared by Naik, Sundargarh district has the highest number of unconnected villages and hamlets at 905, followed by Nayagarh (536), Nabarangpur (435), Malkangiri (328), and Kalahandi (321). In contrast, Subarnapur district has no unconnected villages or hamlets.
Naik highlighted that efforts are underway to connect these villages through various government schemes, including MNREGA, CFC/SFC, and MPLAD/MLALAD. Additionally, the state government’s new scheme, BGBO (Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha) aims to construct and repair 35 percent of the roads in these areas.
Steps are being taken to ensure these villages are connected with regular roads, improving accessibility and infrastructure across the state.
