Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurates Rs. 3200 crore Biju Expressway Project

NOTE: I am very happy that part of our demand has been heard by Odisha Govt. and CM. As some of you might be realising that we have been writing to CM since past 6 years to have a highway for the route Bargarh-Padampur - Nuapada –Sinapali – Golamunda – Dharamgarh – Moter – Jaipatna – Mangalpur – Deopali – Muran – Kolab – Dooduma (Koraput). I am thankful that at least Bargarh to Dharamgarh and Ampani have been included in this proposal. We will continue to demand in next round to include Moter-Jaipatna-Mukhiguda-T. Rampur-Kashipur and Junagarh - Karalapat Kiapadar- Kalyansingpur as other highways. We should also make shortest possible road routes to Titilagarh, Rayagada and Lanjigarh from Bhawanipatna that will help Bhawanipatna as a commercial center

Orissadiary, Aug 28, 2014

Report by Sambit Samal, Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurates Biju Expressway Project at State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. Biju Expressway will pass through 4 KBK districts, 4 districts of Western Odisha. This was informed by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The project cost will be Rs. 3200 crore. Biju Expressway project will help in economic development of people of Western Odisha, KBK districts said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. 

“ This project aims at connecting four districts of western Odisha — namely Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundergarh with four KBK districts — namely Koraput, Nawarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. This Expressway will connect many border towns of western and south Odisha and also passes through one of the most backward regions of our state. Development through infrastructure building has always been at the top of our agenda. Socio-economic growth always follows quality road connectivity. Biju Expressway will be immensely helpful in boosting the economy of western Odisha and KBK districts, “said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. 

CM Patnaik further added that, “This massive connectivity network will help boost agriculture, trade & commerce, and social sector development. It will also support our initiatives in mainstreaming socially and economically backward people. I believe it will usher in an era of development, progress, peace and harmony. In the first phase of this project, 254 kilometers will be convened into four-lanes and 402 kilometers will be made two-lanes. In the second phase, 258 kilometers will be made four-lane. The total project outlay is Rs.3200 crore. The first phase will be completed by May 2017 and the second phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Now it is taking a long 13 hours for travelling from Jagdalpur to Rourkela. After completion of this project, it will take just six hours to travel this distance.” 

CM Patnaik said that we had made a promise in our election manifesto to connect northern and southern Odisha with an Express-way passing through KBK regions and Western Odisha. I am happpy, that today, we are taking a concrete step in this regard.

About Biju Expressway Project  

Socio-economic growth always follows quality road connectivity. Hence through  many schemes Govt. is making all out efforts to improve road connectivity in all regions of the State. In 2006-07, Vijaywada-Ranchi corridor was a step in this direction. Bifurcating the state of Odisha into two geographical parts, it has improved administrative efficiency in extremist affected hinterlands of the state and helped boost the economy of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput by providing connectivity to ports, industries, and developed markets in and outside the State} After V-R corridor the gap in connectivity sector lies in KBK districts like Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and border towns of Western Odisha. 

In order to improve the socio-economic condition of these districts, Govt. of Odisha has already proposed to construct Lower Indra Irrigation Project which will irrigate an Ayacut area of 29900 Ha. in Blocks Khariar, Boden, Bangomunda, Muribahal & Titilagarh. To tap the growth in agriculture construction of an Expressway demands added priority. To meet the above need, an economic corridor from  JAGDALPUR to ROURKELA  to be named as BIJU EXPRESSWAY has been planned which will pass through four KBK districts, namely, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi & Nuapada and four districts of Western Odisha viz. Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh. The corridor will connect border towns such as Chandli, Boriguma, Nabarangpur, Papadahandi, Ambapani, Dharmagarh, Sinapali, Bhella, Nuapada, Paikamal, Padampur, Sohella, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh & Rourkela.

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Patnaik launches Rs. 3,200 cr Biju Expressway project

The Hindu Business Lines, Aug 28, 2014

Odisha government today launched Rs. 3,200 crore economic corridor between Jagdalpur and Rourkela, as promised during the last elections.

“The project aims at connecting four districts of western Odisha like Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Sundergarh with four KBK (Kalahandi—Balangir—Koraput) districts namely Koraput, Nawrangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after launching the Biju Expressway project here.

The expressway will also connect many border towns of western and south Odisha like Chandli, Boriguma, Nabarangpur, Papadahandi, Ambapani, Dharmagarh, Sinapali, Behella, Nuapada, Paikmal, Padmapur, Sohela, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, and Rourkela.

As the expressway would pass through one of the most backward regions of the state, KBK region, it would help boost its economy, the chief minister said.

Besides boosting agriculture, trade and commerce, and social sector development, Patnaik said Biju Expressway would support the state’s initiatives in mainstreaming socially and economically backward people.

In the first phase of the project, 254 km road will be converted to four—lanes and 402 kilometers to be two—lanes. In the second phase, 258 km will be made four—lane. The total project outlay is Rs. 3200 crore, officials said.

On the funding of the project, a senior official at the road and building department said, “The state has already started 4—laning from Rourkela to Sambalpur (160 km) through PPP mode while 4—laning from Sambalpur to Sohella via Bargarh (74 km) to be funded by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.”

Both the state and the Centre would bear the expense to be made in the project, he said.

While the first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by May 2017, the second phase completion target has been fixed by end of 2019.

Currently it requires 13 hours to travel from Jagdalpur to Rourkela and, after completion of the project, the distance could be covered only in six hours, officials said.