Tamil Nadu Rolls Out Rural Roads And Housing Push, Centre Funds Rs 1,837 Crore Under PM Gram Sadak Yojana

The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned the improvement of 20,000 km of rural roads at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore under the Mudalvarin Grama Saalaigal Membattu Thittam (MGSMT), according to an official release highlighting the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department’s achievements.

“So far, over 9,690 projects covering 12,572 km have been improved at an estimated cost of Rs 4,609 crore. Further 6,671 km of roads were being improved at an estimated cost of Rs 3,529 crore" under the MGSMT scheme launched in 2022-23, the statement noted.

Meanwhile, under the Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam Scheme, aimed at creating a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030, the state has sanctioned Rs 7,000 crore for constructing two lakh houses over two years.

Of these, 72,081 houses have already been completed, with the remainder under various stages of construction. Needy beneficiaries can avail themselves of loan assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh through banks.

In a bid to support older rural housing stock, the government has allocated Rs 1,041.32 crore in 2024-25 for the renovation of 1.48 lakh houses built before 2000-01.

Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) jointly funded with 60 per cent from the Union government and 40 per cent from the state, around 4,182 km of 947 roads and 83 new bridges are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,061 crore.

Further works include over 500 km of roads and 308 bridges completed at a cost of Rs 1,182 crore under the NABARD rural infrastructure development fund.

The government has also invested Rs 261 crore for renovating Periyar Memorial Samathuvarpurams and allocated Rs 4,277 crore for works in 10,187 village panchayats under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam – II.

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