Thanks to Sri Rama Chandra Khuntia for his letter to Minister for Road Transport and Highways Supporting our Proposal for Highways in KBK

NOTE: Our sincere thanks to Sri Khuntia for taking this move. We appreciate his support.

19 November, 2010


Dear Shri Kamal Nath Ji,
As you know KBK is the most backward region of Odisha. Instead of having any clear vision about the development KBK region, the State Government of Odisha is using KBK as a political weapon. In the State Government’s proposal for Rs. 800 Crore Special Grant for infrastructure development, no concrete proposal has been included for construction of highways linking KBK districts. In my view the following routes are very important for development of KBK region :

(1) Construction of Four lanes on Bolangir to Koraput via Bhawanipatna, Nabarangpur Highway (NH 201 & NH 43);

(2) Construction of two lane highway from Nuapada to Dooduma (Koraput) via Subaneda, Indra Dam, Sinapalli, Dharamgarh, Moter, Jaipatan, Indravati dam, Muran dam, Kolab;

(3) Construction of two lane highway from Umarkote to Parliakhemundi via Jharigram, Gotomunda, Dharamgarh, Junagarh, Karlapat Kiapadar, Jaykaypur, Gunpur;

(4) Construction of Four lanes on NH 217 – Nuapada to Phulbani via Bongomunda, Titilagarh;

(5) Construction two lane highway from Nabarangpur to Phulbani via Mahulpatna – Thuamul Rampur – Lanjigarh – Tumudibandh;

(6) Construction of two lane highway from Vijayawada to Ranchi via Jeypore-Dasmantpur-Kashipur (of Rayagada) – Bhawanipatna – Madanpur Rampur – Kantamal (of Boudh) – Sonepur – Sambalpur.

In my opinion, the proposed route of Vijayawada – Ranchi highway by State Government does not serve any fruitful purpose except connecting the above two cities through Maoists influenced districts of Odisha. A better, short and convenient route with development of business and trade point view would be Vijayawada to Ranchi via Motu – Malkangiri – Jeypore - Dasmantpur-Kashipur (of Rayagada) – Bhawanipatna – Madanpur Rampur – Kantamal (of Boudh) – Sonepur – Sambalpur – Rourkela. Moreover, this would cover a large part of KBK region including 5 out of 8 districts and major towns of Odisha.

Similarly, road development in Maoists influenced districts in Odisha could very well be done by constructing Koraput – Baripada highway via Phulbani, Keonjhar etc.

I shall be grateful if you kindly consider my above recommendations while finalizing the proposals for development of highways in KBK region.

With warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

(RAMA CHANDRA KHUNTIA)

Shri Kamal Nath Ji,
Minister for Road Transport and Highways,
Government of India,
New Delhi


........................NOTE...........................................
Dear Shri Digambara Patra Ji,

Thanks for your e-mail suggesting verious construction of highways for development of KBK region. I have written a letter to Hon. Minister of Road Transport and Highways in the matter. A am enclosing herewith a copy of the same for your information.

yours faithfully,


RAMACHANDRA KHUNTIA-MP.