BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Sunday launched another programme named after Biju, the Biju Setu Yojana. Announcing the scheme, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the Government has embarked upon this new initiative to bridge the missing links on rural roads. Under the new plan, about 400 new bridges will be constructed at a cost of `1,000 cr over a period of three years. The project will unleash the growth potential of the villages through all-weather connectivity, he said. “This initiative will revolutionise rural communication and make us move towards building a vibrant and prosperous Orissa __ the ultimate dream of Biju Babu,” he remarked. Stating that the new scheme will bring considerable change in rural communication in the State, Naveen recalled how Biju Babu had dreamt of rural development in Orissa. Starting from panchayati raj institutions to village industries, Biju Babu had taken several pioneering steps in the development of rural Orissa and this initiative will be another step of the Government in fulfilling his dreams, Naveen observed. The Chief Minister said roads and bridges not only provide connectivity in physical terms, but also provide access to goods and services. Statistics has revealed that improved connectivity has a positive impact on reducing poverty, he said. In Orissa, close to 2.5 lakh km-road are being maintained by different departments like Works, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Water Resources and Forest and Environment. Steps are also being taken to lay cement concrete roads in all the villages under different schemes. Naveen said connecting villages with bridges and approach roads will help farmers in getting better access to markets for their agricultural produce and facilitate children to get better access to educational institutions. People at large and women in particular will immensely benefit by improved access to healthcare because of the scheme, he said.
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