Kerala roads PMGSY plan advances with full block coverage
Kerala’s Wayanad district has been confirmed with 300 roads now approved under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a major boost to rural infrastructure. This development ensures all blocks in the region receive fair inclusion. The approval follows intervention and review meetings aimed at improving implementation of central government schemes in the aspirational district.
The newly sanctioned roads will cover areas in Kalpetta, Panamaram, Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery blocks. Earlier, only a limited number had been approved, leading to concern over exclusion. With this clearance, officials have promised to begin construction immediately across all blocks. The rural road network in Wayanad is critical for improving market access, education connectivity and health service delivery, especially in the monsoon-prone terrain of the Western Ghats.
Other key infrastructure projects in the district were also reviewed. Officials confirmed that land acquisition for the new Wayanad Medical College is underway. Construction of a Critical Care Unit at the Kalpetta Kainatti Government Hospital is also progressing, backed by ₹23.75 crore in central funding. The unit is expected to significantly boost medical response capabilities in a district vulnerable to landslides and flooding during heavy rains.
In the education and social welfare sector, a proposal to renovate 25 Anganwadi centres was taken up. These centres currently lack basic buildings despite having dedicated land. Officials have committed to sourcing funds through corporate social responsibility (CSR) channels to construct proper facilities. Meanwhile, stalled work on the Chenalode-Ootupura road and the Vellamunda-Puliyanchal road under the PMGSY has been ordered to resume without delay.
Officials also discussed the declining Delta Ranking of Wayanad under the Aspirational Districts Programme. The health department was urged to take urgent corrective measures. Progress on other central schemes like PMAY, MGNREGA, disaster management and agricultural support was also reviewed. A call was made to enhance disaster resilience in the district, which has seen repeated monsoon-related calamities in recent years.
The recent decisions represent a wide-ranging push to fast-track development in Wayanad through rural roads, medical infrastructure and early childhood care. With attention now focused on timely execution, district officials are expected to prioritise completion of long-pending works. Continued central support and improved coordination among departments could significantly transform access and resilience in Kerala’s hilly tribal heartland.
