New Delhi, April 5 -- In a significant boost to rural connectivity and economic development in India's hill states, the Ministry of Rural Development has approved a new tranche of infrastructure projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) for Manipur, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the ministry said in a release on Saturday.

According to the release, these projects, which include roadworks and the construction of long-span bridges, are aimed at improving access to essential services and stimulating economic activity in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.

Manipur has been sanctioned 41 new roads covering 280.97 km at an estimated cost of Rs 225.15 crore. This comes in addition to 56 roads spanning 50...