CM Majhi Expands Setu Bandhan Yojana for Odisha's Tribal Villages
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has announced the expansion of the Setu Bandhan Yojana to strengthen bridge connectivity in remote, tribal-majority and aspirational districts, committing to last-mile development across rural Odisha.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced expansion of Setu Bandhan Yojana on 28 July 2026 .
The scheme targets bridge construction in inaccessible, tribal-majority, and aspirational districts of Odisha.
Districts like Koraput, Malkangiri , and Rayagada — among Odisha's most underserved — are key focus areas.
The expansion complements central rural road programmes like PMGSY , addressing the 'missing link' of bridge connectivity.
Aspirational districts under NITI Aayog's programme are explicitly prioritised for last-mile development.
District-wise allocations and funding figures are yet to be officially detailed.
Bridges are more than concrete and steel — in Odisha's remotest corners, they are the difference between a child reaching school and turning back at a flooded stream. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 that the state will expand the Setu Bandhan Yojana, sharpening its focus on inaccessible, tribal-dominated, and aspirational districts to push development to the last household.
Posting in Odia, CM Majhi wrote: 'ସେତୁ ବନ୍ଧନ ଯୋଜନା'ର ସମ୍ପ୍ରସାରଣ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଗ୍ରାମାଞ୍ଚଳରେ ସଂଯୋଗ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ ଆହୁରି ସୁଦୃଢ଼ କରାଯିବ' — 'Through the expansion of the Setu Bandhan Yojana, connectivity in rural Odisha will be further strengthened.' He added that reaching the benefits of development to every person, with priority to remote, tribal-majority and aspirational districts, is 'our government's commitment.' The stated goal: 'Strong connectivity, developed villages, and a prosperous Odisha.'
What Setu Bandhan Yojana Is Built to Do
The Setu Bandhan Yojana is a centrally-backed scheme designed specifically to build bridges in unconnected or hard-to-reach rural areas — the kind of habitations that all-weather road programmes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), launched in 2000, laid roads toward but could not always fully link. Bridges are the missing link: without them, a paved road that ends at a riverbank is no road at all. Odisha's geography makes this acutely relevant. Districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, and Rayagada — home to large Scheduled Tribe populations and historically among the state's most underserved — are precisely the terrain this scheme targets. These are also districts that NITI Aayog has flagged under its Aspirational Districts Programme, where convergence of central and state investment is meant to close stubborn development gaps.Tribal Connectivity as a Political and Policy Priority
Odisha governments across administrations have supplemented central rural infrastructure schemes with targeted bridge projects in tribal and once left-wing extremism-affected zones. CM Majhi's announcement fits that long pattern — but signals that the BJP-led government, in power since June 2024, intends to deepen it. Prioritising aspirational districts also aligns with a national political calculus: demonstrating measurable improvement in India's most lagging regions ahead of future electoral cycles. The specifics — which districts get bridges first, how many structures are planned, what the budget envelope looks like — are yet to emerge from state rural development department orders or the next budget cycle. But the direction is clear. Every unbuilt bridge in a tribal district is a visible gap the government is now staking its credibility on closing. A prosperous Odisha, the Chief Minister says, starts with a road that actually reaches you.Point of View
Tangible development in tribal and aspirational districts that were long seen as Congress and BJD strongholds. Prioritising these districts signals both a welfare commitment and a political calculation — bridge-building in Malkangiri or Koraput is infrastructure and optics simultaneously. The alignment with NITI Aayog's Aspirational Districts Programme also gives the state cover to claim convergence with national development priorities. The real test will come when district-level allocations and timelines are published — that is when intent becomes accountability.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Setu Bandhan Yojana in Odisha?
Setu Bandhan Yojana is a scheme focused on constructing bridges to improve rural connectivity in remote and unconnected areas. CM Majhi announced its expansion in Odisha on 28 July 2026, with priority to tribal and aspirational districts.
Which districts in Odisha will benefit from Setu Bandhan Yojana expansion?
The expansion prioritises inaccessible, tribal-majority, and aspirational districts. Key tribal districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, and Rayagada are among the most likely beneficiaries, though official district-wise allocations are yet to be announced.
What are aspirational districts in Odisha?
Aspirational districts are areas identified by NITI Aayog under its Aspirational Districts Programme as lagging on key development indicators. In Odisha, several tribal districts fall under this category and receive targeted central and state investment.
How does Setu Bandhan Yojana differ from PMGSY?
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), launched in 2000, focuses on providing all-weather road connectivity to rural habitations. Setu Bandhan Yojana specifically targets bridge construction to complete the connectivity chain where roads exist but river crossings remain missing.
When did Mohan Charan Majhi become Chief Minister of Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024, leading the BJP government that came to power in the state.
