Bhubaneswar, July 14: The Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday approved the construction of 1,750 new bridges under the Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY) and also sanctioned the completion of 1,417 ongoing bridge projects with a total outlay of  Rs 11,800 crore. The Cabinet also approved the extension of the scheme till 2030-31.

The Setu Bandhan Yojana was originally launched in 2011- 12 as the Biju Setu Yojana (BSY) to bridge missing links on roads under the Rural Development (RD) Department. The programme was later expanded to include strategic and important Panchayat Samiti roads under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.

The scheme aims to create an all-weather road network across Odisha by improving connectivity in rural and remote areas, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation while supporting the state's overall development.

For the 2021-22 to 2025-26 period, the government had approved an outlay of Rs 8,779.22 crore for the construction of 2,403 bridges, including 380 ongoing and 2,023 new projects.

Recognising the growing need for improved rural connectivity and its role in enhancing socio-economic development, the Cabinet approved the proposal to continue the scheme with a larger investment. The government said the new phase will strengthen transport infrastructure, improve access to essential services, and boost economic opportunities for people living in rural areas across the state.