In a proud moment for Odisha, the state has been conferred a prestigious national honour by the Ministry of Rural Development for its exemplary implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The recognition came during the grand 25th anniversary celebrations of the flagship rural connectivity programme held in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh on May 10.
Odisha secured the third position nationwide for connecting the highest number of habitations – an impressive 16,990 villages – under the scheme. The state also bagged the third spot in the special category covering North-Eastern states, Union Territories, and hilly regions by successfully providing road connectivity to 2,132 habitations nestled in challenging terrain.
What truly set Odisha apart was the showcase of its innovative “Bandhara Model” – a unique Bridge-cum-Weir (Adibandh) design – during the national engineering and technology exhibition held alongside the event. This ingenious solution seamlessly integrates rural road connectivity with water security. By installing check dams on seasonal rivers, the model regulates water flow, recharges groundwater, and ensures round-the-year availability of drinking and irrigation water even during peak summer.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Odisha’s Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Shri Ravi Narayan Naik said, “This national recognition reflects the strong commitment and relentless efforts of the state government towards holistic rural development. While we continue to work tirelessly for the overall progress of our villages, we are determined to further strengthen this mission in the coming days.”
Over the past 25 years, PMGSY has emerged as a game-changer for rural India, providing all-weather road connectivity to more than 1.63 lakh habitations across the country and dramatically improving access to education, healthcare, markets, and livelihood opportunities.
Odisha’s consistent top-tier performance and its forward-looking innovations like the Bandhara Model have not only strengthened rural infrastructure but also set a replicable benchmark for sustainable development. As the nation celebrates a quarter-century of transforming rural lives through better roads, Odisha stands tall as a shining example of vision, execution, and innovation.
