The Odisha government approved rural road and bridge projects worth Rs 320.67 billion (bn), and extended seven infrastructure schemes for a further five years to strengthen connectivity across the state, officials said. The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting, which cleared 13 proposals from seven departments, including seven from the Rural Development Department. The cabinet extended the existing schemes to the 2030-31 period. The cabinet approved extension of the Setu Bandhan Yojana with an outlay of Rs 118 bn, under which 1,750 new bridges will be constructed and 1,417 ongoing bridge projects will be completed to bridge missing road links. Launched in 2011-12, the scheme aims to address missing links on roads managed by the Rural Development Department and improve rural connectivity. The Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana–Transferred Roads Improvement Programme will continue till 2029-30 with an allocation of Rs 67 bn for construction and improvement of 25,500 km of rural roads and completion of ongoing projects. The Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana itself has been extended to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 40 bn for construction of 4,607.21 km of new roads and completion of 115 km of ongoing works. The cabinet also approved continuation of the MMSY–Improvement to Existing Rural Development Roads scheme till 2029-30 with an estimated expenditure of Rs 57.5 bn to upgrade 17,500 km of roads connecting hospitals, schools, markets, tourist destinations and commercial centres. The MMSY–Connecting Missing Road Links scheme was extended with Rs 19.17 bn for construction of 3,850 km, while the Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult Areas scheme received Rs 13 bn and the Bridge?cum?Weir scheme Rs 6 bn. The cabinet approved repeal of the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1956 to enable a new agricultural marketing law and continued subsidy under the State Agriculture Policy with Rs 24.96 bn to support 8,500 commercial agri?enterprise projects across 30 districts. It also cleared a project of over Rs 1.3 bn under the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme, which officials said is expected to be completed within three years.