THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 21, 2026
In a major push to plug critical road connectivity gaps
across rural and border areas, the Odisha government has proposed a four-year
extension of the Mukhyamantri Sadak Yojana–Connecting Missing Road Links
(MMSY-CMRL), with an outlay of Rs 1,547.55 crore and a target of taking up
nearly 3,215 km of road projects by 2030.
The Rural Development Department has proposed extending the scheme
from 2026-27 to 2029-30, with the focus on linking habitations and areas that
remain disconnected from key inter-block, inter-district and inter-state road
networks.
The scheme, originally launched in 2020-21 as ‘Inter
District, Inter Block Connectivity’, was renamed ‘MMSY-Connecting Missing Road
Links’ in 2022-23. It was earlier approved for two years from 2023-24 to
2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 1,160 crore for construction and improvement of
673.49 km of roads.
During 2025-26, improvement works covering 635.12 km were
completed under the scheme, officials said.
Under the proposed four-year extension, the government has
set a target of taking up approximately 3,214.88 km of road projects between
2026-27 and 2029-30, besides completing ongoing works and constructing
connecting bridges and small cross-drainage (CD) structures wherever required.
The scheme seeks to bridge missing links in inter-block,
inter-district and inter-state connectivity, besides connecting unconnected
islands and reducing travel distances between blocks, districts and
neighbouring states, particularly in border areas.
The improved road network is also expected to provide easier
access to essential services and economic centres, including hospitals,
schools, colleges, panchayats, markets, tourist destinations and trade centres,
thereby improving mobility and the overall quality of life in rural areas.
Under the scheme, missing links will be bridged either
through construction of new roads and bridges/CD works or by providing connecting
bridges and small CD structures to existing roads.
The projects will be executed through departmental engineers
of the Rural Works Organisation, who will be responsible for preparing designs,
drawings and other technical specifications.
The government has also proposed stringent provisions for
post-construction maintenance and quality control. Five years of annual routine
maintenance will be incorporated into project contracts, with contractors
required to keep road surfaces defect-free during the maintenance period.
In addition, each project will carry a five-year Defect
Liability Period (DLP) from the date of completion. During this period,
contractors will be required to rectify defects at their own cost.
To ensure construction quality, a standard Quality Assurance
Document will prescribe the nature and frequency of mandatory tests. All tests
will be conducted in government or government-approved laboratories.
Third-party quality assessment will be undertaken through Independent State Quality Monitors, following the State Quality Monitor model adopted under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
A third-party evaluation of the scheme will also be undertaken by qualified agencies at the end of the proposed scheme period, in consultation with the Finance Department.
