Bhubaneswar, Dec 2: The Odisha government has sanctioned a significant number of houses under rural housing schemes for 2024-25 and 2025-26, while also acknowledging gaps in road connectivity across revenue and hamlet villages.

According to Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik’s written reply in the Assembly, a total of 1,58,509 houses have been approved under the Antyodaya Housing Scheme up to November. Additionally, 1,02,704 houses have been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin for 2024-25.

District-wise allocations show that Ganjam and Mayurbhanj have received the highest number of houses under Antyodaya scheme, with more than 11,000 each over two years. Sundargarh has been allotted over 9,000 houses. Under PMAY-Gramin, Nuapada tops the list with 12,000 houses, followed by Bhadrak and Nabarangpur in second and third place respectively. The minister also indicated that assistance for rural housing construction may be increased in the future.

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On infrastructure, Minister Naik admitted that 5,008 revenue and hamlet villages in the state still lack all-weather road connectivity. He assured that efforts are underway to construct roads to all such villages within a short timeframe. Currently, Odisha has 1,22,533 km of roads under the jurisdiction of panchayats and panchayat samitis. In the ongoing financial year, the government has already constructed 2,643 km of new roads.

The minister’s reply came in response to questions raised by BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera on housing and MLA Arun Sahoo on road connectivity. The government emphasized its commitment to expanding both housing and infrastructure facilities in rural areas, aiming to improve living standards and accessibility for villagers.