Latest news with #PMGSY
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Uttar Pradesh paves the way for greener rural roads with plastic waste recycling
Uttar Pradesh has achieved a 'major breakthrough' in eco-friendly rural road construction by recycling 1,400 metric tonnes of plastic waste, saving over 90 lakh tonnes of stone aggregates and reducing diesel consumption by seven lakh litres under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-3 (2019-2025) The Uttar Pradesh Rural Roads Development Agency (UPRRDA) is implementing this initiative across 35 districts, covering 171 routes with a total length of over 1121 km. (FOR REPRESENTATION) These measures had not only lowered construction costs by around 15%, but also significantly cut down the state's carbon footprint, UP Rural Road Road Development Agency (UPRRDA) chief executive officer Akhand Pratap Singh claimed. So far, 690 tonnes of single-use plastic waste have been used in the renovation of 605.79 km roads, improving durability and contributing to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Uttar Pradesh Rural Roads Development Agency (UPRRDA) is implementing this initiative across 35 districts, covering 171 routes with a total length of over 1121 km. Four advanced eco-friendly technologies are being employed to enhance road quality and lifespan. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who heads the rural development department, has held several meetings with officials recently to assess the impact of technology and plan further innovations. 'Marking a first in the state, we have adopted Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology to build roads by reusing old road layers without the need for new stones. Instead of excavating fresh materials, roads are reconstructed by pulverizing existing layers and stabilizing them using commercial chemical additives, resulting in faster construction and an impermeable base with an estimated life of 15 to 20 years,' Singh explained. In addition to FDR, UPRRDA has deployed four new green technologies for road construction and maintenance that enhance durability while being environmentally responsible. Among the most impactful is the use of shredded waste plastic in bituminous concrete, which has been implemented across 1,121 kilometers in 30 districts. 'This method blends about 8% plastic waste with heated aggregates before mixing with bitumen, providing stronger roads and effectively recycling plastic that would otherwise pollute the environment,' Singh explained. The state has also introduced cold mix technology, now used in 306 kilometres across 9 districts. This technique enables road laying without heating bitumen, drastically reducing fuel use and emissions while delivering higher pavement strength compared to traditional hot mixes. Another innovation is the Cement Grouted Bituminous Mix (CGBM), which has been applied to 282 kilometers in 12 districts. 'This approach involves injecting a special cement-based grout into low-percentage bitumen mixes to create a water-resistant, long-lasting surface that doesn't deform under load or moisture, helping conserve both bitumen and aggregate,' he said. FDR involves reusing the existing road structure (old bituminous layers and aggregates) instead of excavating and transporting fresh materials from quarries. 'Since no new stone aggregate needs to be mined, transported, or processed, there is a drastic reduction in fuel consumption, particularly diesel, which is otherwise used extensively in heavy machinery and trucks for loading, hauling, and laying fresh materials,' another senior UPRRDA official DD Pathak said. 'Conventional road construction requires heating bitumen and aggregates, which consumes large amounts of diesel in hot mix plants,' he added. The cold mix technologies used by UPRRDA—such as Cold Mix BC and MSS+ with Cold Bitumen—eliminate the need for heating bitumen. As a result, there is a direct saving of diesel that would have been burned in heating units or boilers. 'Together, these changes led to the saving of about 7 lakh litres of diesel during the construction of over 6,000 km of rural roads in Uttar Pradesh under PMGSY-3,' Pathak claimed.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Developed India needs self-reliant villages: Maurya
Lucknow: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday said the goal of building a developed India will be achieved only through the holistic and balanced development of villages. "Villages and villagers have to be made strong, self-reliant and self-sufficient in every situation. Smart villages need to be built like smart cities. Development work should be visible on the ground," he said. Maurya was chairing a review meeting of development works organised with all the chief development officers (CDOs) of the state at the Yojana Bhawan. He told senior officials of the rural development department and the CDOs to focus especially on activating the inactive self-help groups. He said Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-R) should be made more transparent. Maurya said the top priority of the govt is the welfare of the poor. He said Uttar Pradesh played a leadership role in the FDR technology of PMGSY. "The roads being constructed by PMGSY's FDR technology should be monitored regularly," he said adding that work should be done to connect unemployed youth of the villages with the Prime Minister Micro Food Industry Upgradation Scheme. He asked the CDOs to check the ground reality of the development works in the villages. The DyCM said village chaupal is a powerful medium to connect with the public. "Quick resolution of the problems of the villagers should be ensured in the chaupals," he said.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Unfinished bridge cuts off Bageshwar village from medical aid
Bageshwar: In Sorag, a remote Himalayan village in Kapkot tehsil of Bageshwar district, an unfinished bridge has become a grim symbol of official apathy, leaving residents cut off from basic medical care. With the long-promised structure still incomplete after four years, villagers are forced to carry the sick and injured on makeshift stretchers for miles across treacherous terrain. On Friday, 16-year-old Diwakar Danu, a Class 11 student, suffered a severe spinal injury after falling from a roof. With no motorable access to the village, locals carried him on a stretcher for 8km over rugged terrain to reach the nearest ambulance. Doctors at the district hospital confirmed a spinal fracture and advised complete bed rest. The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the long-stalled bridge project over the Pindar River. In 2021, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), an 11-km road was sanctioned to connect Sorag to the nearest main road. The construction agency, WAPCOS, was allocated Rs 4.5 crore to build the road and a 60-metre bridge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo While the road has been completed, the bridge remains unfinished, rendering the route impassable for vehicles. The situation worsens during the monsoon, when river levels rise and isolation deepens. "Authorities built the road but left out the crucial bridge. Without it, we're still cut off. Even the temporary wooden bridge built by us was washed away during the monsoon," said Diwan Singh Danu, a resident. Nitin Soragi, another villager added, "Stretchers and palanquins have become our emergency transport. The bridge has been in limbo for years. Generations have waited." WAPCOS engineer Bishan Lal claimed the bridge between Ungiya and Sorag is "80% complete". "Shuttering and slab work remain. We expect to finish construction by winter," he added. Sorag isn't the only village struggling. In the Kalapair-Kapdi area, residents are using a risky trolley system to cross the Ramganga River after a suspension bridge collapsed. "We risk our lives every day. The alternative route takes several kilometres on foot," said Vijaya Koranga, a resident.
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Business Standard
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
ICRA forecasts muted growth for mining and construction industry in FY26
The Indian mining and construction equipment (MCE) industry is set to report muted growth of 2–5 per cent in 2025-26, as domestic demand remains under pressure due to a combination of erratic monsoons, delayed infrastructure project awards, and rising equipment costs following regulatory changes, ICRA said in a statement. 'Early onset of monsoons and unseasonal rains in some regions of the country disrupted construction and mining activities in Q1 FY2026 (April-June),' said Ritu Goswami, Sector Head at ICRA. The impact was visible in Coal India's flat production figures and the sluggish activity in major infrastructure schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), she added. From 1 January 2025, the sector transitioned to CEV (Construction Equipment Vehicle) Stage-V emission norms and mandatory safety features for wheeled equipment. 'This has led to increased prices for compliant machines, which are likely to be passed on to the customer (partly or fully) over the next few quarters,' Goswami said. These cost escalations, combined with weak project awarding activity and the seasonal sales slowdown during the monsoons, will collectively subdue demand in the first half of the fiscal, she added. Data from the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA) shows a 1 per cent year-on-year decline in overall industry volumes in Q1 FY2026. Domestic volumes fell by 4 per cent, but a robust 31 per cent growth in exports cushioned the dip, driven by backhoe loaders, excavators, and skid steer loaders, which together made up 76 per cent of export volumes. Despite current headwinds, ICRA remains optimistic about a demand revival in the latter half of the fiscal, supported by a government capital outlay of ₹11.2 trillion for initiatives such as JJM, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. 'Continued emphasis on sectors including transportation, water supply and sanitation, and irrigation is anticipated to result in an increase in new project awards and execution, thereby supporting domestic MCE demand,' said Goswami. Industrial and warehousing construction demand is also expected to remain steady due to a strong domestic market focus. Meanwhile, the export outlook remains positive, even as the industry awaits clarity on a potential 26 per cent reciprocal tariff by the US. 'Opportunities in alternate markets continue to offer significant diversification potential,' ICRA noted. Financially, OEMs saw only single-digit revenue growth in Q1 FY26, with margins under pressure from higher steel and compliance costs. However, the credit profiles of most players are expected to remain stable due to low leverage and healthy liquidity buffers.
United News of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
A ‘Viksit Gaon' is an achievable reality: Chandrasekhar
New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) Calling for a renewed focus on grassroots development, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar has noted that a 'Viksit Gaon' where every family has a pucca house with basic amenities, every youth is employed, and every woman is economically empowered is not a distant dream — it is an achievable reality. Speaking at the first Performance Review Committee meeting of the Ministry of Rural Development here, Dr Chandrasekhar underscored the critical role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in building a 'Viksit Gaon' as the foundation for a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, according to a statement here today. He said rural development schemes are no longer just welfare measures but essential engines driving the nation's inclusive growth story under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Among flagship initiatives, MGNREGS stood out prominently in the Minister's address. Describing it as 'the strongest weapon against rural unemployment and distress migration', Dr Chandrasekhar highlighted the scheme's continuing relevance, particularly during agricultural lean seasons. With an annual investment between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1,00,000 crore, MGNREGS has generated over 250 crore person-days of work each year. More than 36 crore job cards have been issued so far, and over 15 crore workers remain active beneficiaries, said the statement. However, the Minister stressed the need to transition beyond mere wage payments. He called for a shift towards meaningful and durable asset creation, diversified work categories to ensure productivity, greater convergence with other developmental schemes, and enhanced community participation in selecting and planning work. 'The true potential of MGNREGS lies in its ability to create productive infrastructure that sustains rural livelihoods over time,' he said. In his review, Dr. Chandrasekhar also provided updates on several other key schemes stating that under PMAY-Gramin, over 3.22 crore pucca houses have been constructed so far. An additional 2 crore houses are targeted by 2029. The Minister called for the use of eco-friendly, region-specific technologies and cost-effective housing designs, he said. Similarly, PMGSY has ensured that more than 7.56 lakh km of rural roads are built. The Minister proposed setting up state-level road maintenance funds and encouraging community-based monitoring for improved sustainability. Under the DAY-NRLM, over 10.05 crore rural women have been mobilised into 91 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs), with cumulatively achieved bank linkages worth over Rs 11 lakh crore. Under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, 1.5 crore women now earn more than Rs 1 lakh annually — halfway to the government's 3-crore target, said the Minister even as he emphasised that future efforts must aim to scale up credit access, market connectivity, and skill advancement for SHGs and rural youth alike, the statement added. UNI AJ PRS
