New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi today. Chief Minister, Odisha informed the Hon’ble Union Minister that many important works on National Highways in Odisha have remained pending and considerably delayed on account of non-finalisation of tenders.
He stated that the Railway Over Bridge near Chandanpur and the 9 km by-pass of Puri town from Mangalahat to Sterling Resort were scheduled to be completed before Nabakalebar-2015 but have remained incomplete till date. Similarly, he informed that there has been an inordinate delay in the starting of strengthening and widening work of the 96 km long stretch of Remuli-Rajamunda on NH-215. Further, finalisation of tenders relating to 4-laning of Cuttack-Angul NH-42, 4-laning of BarkotePanposh NH-23, 6-laning of Chandikhole-Balasore NH-16 and 4-laning of Chandikhole- Duburi-Talcher Section of NH-200 have not been completed, resulting in delay in completion of these vital road projects.
Chief Minister mentioned that construction of Flyover at Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar on NH-16 is an acute necessity as this congested junction has a history of several terrible road accidents. Similarly, he stated that construction of Flyover at Gohira Chhaka leading to Info-Valley-II near Khurda on NH-16 required to address the serious problem of congestion is yet to start. He impressed upon the Hon’ble Union Minister to expedite finalisation of these tenders and to start these works at the earliest.
Chief Minister informed that Government of India had accorded in-principle approval for 12 State Roads as new National Highways covering a length of 1193 km during 2015-16 and 2016-17. He urged upon the Union Minister to declare these as National Highways expeditiously and number them appropriately.
Chief Minister added that Government of Odisha has submitted a proposal to declare 30 State Roads, which fulfil the eligibility criteria, covering a length of 2483 km, as National Highways in December, 2016. These 30 eligible State Roads, he stated, may be approved and declared as National Highways as early as possible.
Union Minister assured the Chief Minister that priority will be accorded to the pending National Highway projects in Odisha and appropriate action, as required, relating to finalisation of tenders and completion of the works within a defined timeframe will be taken. He assured to consider the proposal of Odisha for declaring 30 eligible State Roads as National Highways favourably.
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