Wayanad (Kerala) [India], June 25 (ANI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s intervention has led to the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) approving 300 roads in Wayanad under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), ensuring balanced allocation across all blocks, according to a statement from her office.
The announcement came during the first-quarter review meeting of the DISHA 2025–26 committee, chaired by Gandhi to assess the progress of central government schemes in Wayanad. Initially, 331 roads were identified for development under PMGSY, but only 64 roads in the Kalpetta Block had received clearance, leaving out Panamaram, Mananthavady, and Sulthan Bathery Blocks. Gandhi had written to Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chauhan, calling for equitable road allocations, which ultimately led to the revised approval.
The meeting also addressed key infrastructure and healthcare projects. Officials confirmed progress in land acquisition for Wayanad Medical College and the establishment of a Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Kalpetta Kainatti Government Hospital. A central fund of ₹23.75 crore has been sanctioned for the CCU, with a completion deadline of March 2026. Gandhi urged officials to accelerate the project’s execution.
During the session, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Project Officer presented a list of 25 Anganwadi centers with land but no buildings. Gandhi pledged to facilitate funding through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to construct proper facilities for these centers.
Concerns were also raised over the stalled construction of the Chenalode-Ootupura road, funded by the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), which has attracted multiple complaints. Gandhi instructed the immediate resumption of work and also pushed for the prompt completion of the Vellamunda–Puliyanchal road under PMGSY.
Gandhi expressed concern over Wayanad’s declining performance in the Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts Programme and called on the health department and relevant authorities to take corrective measures. She also reviewed the status of the Achurpalam bridge construction under PMGSY, directing officials to expedite the project.
Progress under other central schemes—such as PM Awas Yojana (PMAY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), as well as initiatives in education, agriculture, health, and disaster management—was also evaluated. Gandhi reaffirmed her commitment to the district’s holistic development and acknowledged the recurring challenges posed by natural calamities.
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