Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh announced today that infrastructure projects totalling Rs 33.45 billion have been sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase III.Speaking to the media, the minister confirmed that the Centre has approved the construction of 3,123 kilometres of rural roads and 43 bridges across the state. He noted that the department had worked proactively to expedite approvals and initiate project execution.“To date, 517.33 kilometres of road works have been completed at a cost of Rs 8.03 billion. This reflects our dedication to enhancing rural connectivity in a time-bound manner,” said Singh. He added that Rs 9.05 billion was spent during 2024–25 under PMGSY, exceeding the year’s allocation of Rs 6.5 billion. Given this performance, the state has formally requested that the Central Government double next year’s allocation to Rs 13 billion.Singh also stated that the department is actively working on PMGSY Phase IV. Mapping has been completed for 1,560 habitations, of which 1,115 have been found eligible by the Union Ministry of Rural Development. So far, 862 habitations have received approval, including 102 under Stage I.Following a meeting with the Union Minister for Rural Development on 30 April, a high-level delegation from the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) visited Shimla on 2 and 3 May. The team held detailed discussions with PWD officials and assured that 247 habitations previously rejected would be reassessed individually after proper verification.The state has also informed the Centre that land is already available for 151 of these 247 habitations and has requested swift approval. Once sanctioned, the government plans to prepare around 250 detailed project reports (DPRs) covering 1,400 kilometres of new rural roads under PMGSY-IV.Minister Singh emphasised that the work is being executed on a fast-track basis to ensure timely delivery of rural infrastructure improvements.