New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS): Union Minister for Rural Development, Sanitation, Drinking Water and Panchayat Raj Nitin Gadkari Wednesday approved 28 projects worth Rs.438 crore for building rural roads in Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh.

These would be constructed in the Jammu and Kashmir's arid region under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

"A total of 350 Km of rural road network will be built under these projects, proposals for which were submitted by the state government," the rural development ministry said a statement.

Gadkari took the decision to clear these pending projects after a delegation from Ladakh led by local BJP Member of Lok Sabha Thupstan Chhewang called on him here.

The projects cleared include six proposals in Leh district covering road length of 142 km to be constructed at a cost of Rs.181.4 crore.

Another 22 projects in Kargil district were approved to build 207 km of rural roads at a cost of Rs.256.6 crore, the statement added.