Tamil Nadu sanctions Rs 147 crore for rural roads improvement

CHENNAI: In one of the biggest outlays sanctioned for improving rural roads network including improvement to causeways, repairing culverts and cross drainage structures, the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 146.78 crore to take up various works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme during the fiscal 2019-20.

The Central government will be contributing a major part of these funds to the tune of over RS 114 crore, which includes construction material costs (75 per cent of the estimated cost is Central share and remaining 25 per cent is State share) and the full labour costs borne out under MGNREGA or rural jobs scheme. The State's share is Rs 32.66 crore.  

A G.O. issued here said that this follows the Rural Development Ministry of the Government of India approving a "labour budget" of 22 crore 'person days' under MGNREGA for Tamil Nadu during 2019-20.

While the total rural road network of Tamil Nadu is about 1.49 lakh kilometers, the GO said the improvement works to be taken up under this lot includes construction of culverts, minor bridges and causeways. Cause drainage structures which have been damaged will be replaced so that "regular traffic flow remains unhindered during floods."