Punjab Mandi Board to raise Rs 1,800-crore loan for repair of rural link roads
The Punjab Mandi Board has sought a loan of Rs 1,800 crore from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to start repair of rural link roads. The guarantee for the loan has been given by the Punjab Finance Department.
Link roads in the state are in a dilapidated condition and need immediate repair. Because of the delay in the release of Rs 8,000-crore Rural Development Fund by the Centre, the repair and maintenance of these roads has been held up for three years. With the loan approved by NABARD, the repair work of roads is expected to start in January 2025.
Around 13,400 km total length of 5,382 rural link roads in the state is to be repaired. “The total repair cost will be around Rs 2,436 crore. Other than the NABARD loan, the Finance Department will give Rs 410 crore, including money from the Special Assistance Fund. Another Rs 226 crore is being arranged out of municipal funds. CM Bhagwant Mann accorded approval for the repair of link roads in November,” a senior official in the government told The Tribune.
The list of roads needing immediate repairs has already been prepared and sent to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) by deputy commissioners of all districts. The CMO has also conducted a verification of the roads needing immediate attention. Priority will be given to roads where the repair has been due for over six years.
On April 1, 2022, 1,490 link roads (total length 3,399 km) needed repair, while in 2023-24, 2,779 roads (total length 6,759 km) cried for repair. In 2024-25, 1,113 roads needed immediate repair, covering a length of 3,242 km. At present, the state has 30,237 link roads (total length 64,878 km). Only 18 per cent of these roads are being repaired.
Since Rs 210 crore will come from the Special Assistance Grant by the Centre, it is mandatory that the work is completed before March 2025. The mandi board is, therefore, eager to start the work immediately.
