Nagpur, Dec 8 (UNI) The Maharashtra Cabinet approved a new scheme to build all-weather, motorable approach roads aimed at improving connectivity between agricultural fields and villages across the state.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, an official release said.
The scheme, titled ‘Mukhyamantri Baliraja Shet-Pandan Rasta Yojana’, seeks to provide farmers with better access to transportation facilities for moving agricultural produce, thereby reducing delays and easing market linkage.
According to officials, the initiative allows 100 per cent mechanised construction to ensure faster execution, improved quality and to avoid dependence on manual labour, which had slowed work under the MGNREGA framework. The scheme also provides for immediate removal of encroachments on roads demarcated in village maps.
The project mandates tree plantation on both sides of the roads, either following the Bihar model or through MGNREGA support. Funding will be allocated through 25-km cluster-based tenders, enabling quicker implementation.
A high-level committee headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will monitor the scheme, which will be implemented across all districts of Maharashtra, the release further said.
Special campaigns were launched on September 17, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, to accelerate the rollout.
The first phase is expected to benefit 50,000 farmers across one lakh acres, the official release stated.
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