Bypass route for NH201 near Bhawanipatna and Highway network among KBK-Kandhamal towns

Feb 19, 2011

Dear Honorable Minister of Road Transport and Highways Sri Joshi,

Development of KBK region is being rigorously discussed in the state and central Governmental level. However, Government initiatives in infrastructure is largely in the primary level in KBK, the secondary and tertiary level developments are limited in KBK and more focused in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela and other places in Odisha. 

Infrastructure is Key to the development and attracts new investment. NH201 known as heart line for KBK region is still in misery conditions as before it was announced as National Highway. 

The necessary for a bypass for NH201 near Bhawanipatna town has been a long standing demand to avoid unwanted vehicles passing thorough the centre of the town in daily basis by increasing the traffic and accidents.

State Government has been continuously raising Puri-Bhubaneswar highways, Vijayawada – Ranchi highways, etc, both received substantial central Govt. grant recently, but very rarely any inter districts highways linking KBK districts was raised, except Motu-Rayagada line under proposed Vijayawada – Ranchi highways. The proposed route of Vijayawada – Ranchi highway by state Govt. does not serve the economic reason between above two cities except passing through Maoists influence districts in Odisha. Indeed a short and convenient route with economic reason would be established for Vijayawada-Ranchi route passing through Motu, Malkangiri, Jeypore, Dasmantpur, Kashipur (of Rayagada), Bhawanipatna, Madanpur Rampur, Kantamal (of Boudh), Sonepur, Sambalpur and Rourkela. This would have covered large part of KBK region (benefiting 5 out of 8 districts) and major towns like Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Rourkela. 

Road development of Maoists districts is very important, so is the road development of KBK region (all the KBK districts are Maoists prone as per state Government). The politics played by the state Government to favor few districts of political interest in the name of Maoist districts over other backward KBK districts are never appreciated.

Road development of Maoists influence districts in Odisha could very well be done in various different aspects such as Koraput – Baripada highways via Phulbani, Keonjhar etc. Naming such project as Vijayawada-Ranchi highway without economic consideration of the route was not justified, when there is easy and alternative possibility passing through major part of KBK districts.

For the development of KBK region establishment of highways and linking all the major towns of KBK among themselves is utmost important.

In this respect urgent attention is needed for the following routes.

A by pass route for NH201 near Bhawanipatna

Four Lane national highway route for Balangir to Koraput via Bhawanipatna, Nabarangpur (NH201 & NH 43)

Two Lane Highway for Nuapada to Dooduma (Koraput) via Sunabeda,  Indra Dam, Sinapali, Dharamgarh, Moter, Jaipatan, Indravati dam, Muran dam, and Kolab

Two Lane Highway for  Umarkote to Parliakhemundi via Jharigram, Gotomunda, Dharamgarh,  Junagarh, Karlapat Kiapadar, Jaykaypur, Rayagada, and Gunpur

Four Lane route for Nuapada to Phulbani via Bongomunda, Titilagarh (NH217)

Two Lane route for Vijayawada to Ranchi via Jeypore, Dasmantpur, Kashipur (of Rayagada), Bhawanipatna, Madanpur Rampur, Kantamal (of Boudh), Sonepur and Sambalpur

Major road to connect Titilagarh with Bhawanipatna  via Borbhata and Kulen

Exploring major direct route for Umarkote to Phulbani via Nabarangpur, Mahulpatna, Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and Tumudibandh

I await you look into this matter.

Thank you and with best regards

Digambara Patra