2,697 tribal habitations to get roads

The union cabinet Thursday approved revision of the core network under the prime minister's rural roads scheme by connecting 2,697 villages in tribal areas that have no roads.

These habitations, selected on the basis of the 2001 census, would be those other than the 82 Integrated Action Plan districts and blocks adjoining the international border under the Border Area Development Programme.

The cost for providing road connections to these 2,697 habitations would come to Rs.5,929 crore (over $1 billion), according to a release issued here following the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. - IANS