Bhubaneswar: Over 5,000 villages in the State will get connected during the next four years through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Announcing this in the Assembly today while replying to the discussion on the Rural Development Department budget, Rural Development Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan said that these include 3,316 villages with more than 1,000 population and 2,234 villages having more than 500 population.

The Minister said that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 6,010.97 crore for construction of 5,412 roads of 19,162.27 kilometres during 2000-01 to 2007-08 under the PMGSY.

Out of this, the Centre has released Rs 2,351.48 crore till February 29. The State Government has already spent Rs 2,158.49 crore for construction of 2,365 roads of 8,152 kilometres, which is 91 percent of the funds released by the Centre.

Harichandan said that 3,661 villages have so far been connected with all weather roads with the utilisation of the funds. He said that Orissa has been first state in the country in the utilisation of funds and standard of the roads constructed under the PMGSY.

The Minister announced that during the 2008-09 financial year, 1,500 kilometres new roads will be constructed and 500 kilometres roads will be upgraded under the PMGSY.