Bhubaneswar: Odisha ranked top in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the country, informed Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

Chairing a state level Sanctioning Committee meeting of the PMGSY at state secretariat here on Friday, Padhi said that the government has set the target to complete 3,500 km road by end of March this year.

Odisha has constructed 43,222 km road at investment of Rs 18,624 crore under PMGSY connecting 19,682 villages in 2017.

The Sanction Committee approved 165 new roads and 36 bridges stretching over 582 km as new connectivity and upgradation projects. The projects are estimated at around Rs 500 crore.

The target was set to complete additional 14,000 km-road during the coming fiscal.

Notably, the PMGSY is being implemented with fund support from both the Centre and State on 60:40 basis.

Currently, 43,222 kilometer road connecting 19,862 habitations have already been constructed in different parts of the State utilizing around Rs 18,624 crore by end of December, 2017.