India, July 15 -- The Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Rs.22,667 crore package of rural infrastructure projects, including 1,750 new bridges and 26,000 km of roads to strengthen connectivity across villages, remote regions and border areas.

The cabinet approved a major expansion of the Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY), extending the scheme till 2030-31 and increasing its outlay to Rs.11,000 crore.

Under the expanded programme, the government will construct 1,750 new bridges while completing 1,417 ongoing bridge projects.

Originally launched as the Biju Setu Yojana in 2011-12, the scheme seeks to eliminate missing bridge links on roads under the Rural Development Department and strategically important Panchayat Samiti roads under the Panch...