State Govt focuses on construction of roads

Note: Thanks finally Government hears for NH201.

The Pioneer, May 31, 2010
PNS, Bhubaneswar

The State Government on Friday decided to take up the construction work of 650 km of road in different parts of the State which would cost Rs 1,200 crore. This project includes converting 250 km long one-lane National Highways into two-lane in western Odisha and widening the 400 km-long cluster roads in Maoists affected districts of Rayagada, Gajapati, Sambalpur and Malkanagiri.

The State Government is planning to expedite the construction work of Ranchi-Vijayawada Road for which the Government has written to the Central Government demanding Rs 300 crore for this financial year. The Central Government has made budgetary sanction of Rs 100 crore only for the current year.

The decision was taken at a review meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat.

After the meeting, the Works Secretary Subhendu Kumar Ray said that the Central Government has given Rs 250 crore for widening the National Highways No 200, 201 and 43. These highways with one-lane road would be converted into two-lane roads. Similary, in order to make communication easier, the cluster roads of Maoists-hit districts would be broadened, he said.

Ray said the State Government is willing to expedite the construction work of Ranchi- Vijayawada road and complete it soon. "But due to crunch of funds the construction work is not being done to our expectation. We have demanded the Centre to release Rs 300 crore immediately," Works Secretary said.