In a bid to improve road connectivity in remote villages located in Naxal-affected areas and bordering districts, the Cabinet on Thursday approved a special provision of R38,500 crore under Pradan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to be allocated during the 12th plan period (20012-17). Besides, the Union Cabinet also approved tweaking of PMGSY guidelines, where habitations with a population of 100 and above in the 82 Naxal-affected tribal districts would get roads under PMGSY. At present, the PMGSY covers habitations with a population of 250 persons and above in Naxal-hit tribal districts. More than 13,000 villages are expected to be covered under this special PMGSY allocation. Out of the fund allocated, the major share — R13,850 crore (more than 28%) would be for more than 9,000 villages across nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Rajasthan. “All habitations with a population of 250 have been taken up. But in most tribal areas, the density of population is low. We are giving priority to provide road connectivity to tribal districts in the country as most of these areas are affected by Naxal violence,” rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said after the Cabinet meeting. Besides, a major portion of allocation under PMGSY — R8,000 crore would be for creating multiple connectivity to the villages in 82 Naxal-hit districts. “Security forces have been demanding multiple access points to remote villages in Naxal-affected areas as only road to these villages were blocked by insurgents groups,” Ramesh said. At the initial stage, districts such as Dantewada, Kanker and Balampur (Chhattisgarh), Malkangiri, Koraput and Raigada (Orissa), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh). In a special package for 10 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, which share borders with China and Myanmar, the Cabinet also approved R1,200 crore under PMGSY for constructing of roads during the next five years. Meanwhile, the rural development ministry in a proposal to cabinet has asked for additional allocation for upgradation of exiting rural roads which will be considered in the next meeting of union council of ministers. In the current financial year, the centre has allocated R24,000 crore.