Chennai: In a major push to upgrade rural infrastructure and support agricultural activities, the rural development department will undertake key development projects, including road improvements, desilting of waterways and groundwater recharge initiatives across the state, said minister for rural development and panchayat raj N Anand on Wednesday.Under the initiative, the department will upgrade 3,200 km of panchayat and village roads at an estimated cost of ₹1,634 crore to boost connectivity and infrastructure for the rural populace, Anand said while making a slew of announcements for 2026-2027 during the demand for grants for the department.The department would also lay gravel, cement and paver block roads over a total length of 1,900 km across the state at a cost of ₹1,000 crore to connect farmland and small streets to main roads.To support the farming community and ensure smooth water flow to the tail-end areas, the department will also desilt and strengthen 7,500 km of waterways with an allocation of ₹500 crore. Additionally, projects worth ₹250 crore will be taken up to construct check dams, percolation ponds and farm ponds aimed at augmenting groundwater levels across rural regions, he said.
