Bhubaneswar: The state government has accorded priority to 21 road projects in mining areas for development on the basis of feedback from the people and users.
Reviewing the projects at a high level meeting on virtual mode, chief secretary Asit Tripathy set timelines against each project and directed the departments of Works, National Highway and Rural Development to monitor the works and ensure timely completion.
Stating that the roads are crucial both for boosting the local economy and faster evacuation of minerals, he directed collectors of Sundargarh and Keonjhar to streamline the traffic movement for unhindered progress of the road construction.
The identified projects include 6 roads under administrative control of Works department, 7 under NHAI and 2 under Rural Development (RD) department.
The Works department will monitor Nelda-Barbil road (5.6 km), Bardil-Badasahi (8.9 km), Nayagarh-Jajang (18 km), Tensa-Barsua public siding (15 km) and repair of the bridge over Karo river.
The NHAI roads include Parsora-Rajamun, Keonjhar-Tileibani, Cuttack-Sambalpur, Biramotrapur-Barkot, Remuli-Panikoili, Chandikhol-Talcher and Kalta Mines to Roxy Rly Siding. It was targeted to complete these roads by March, 2022.
The RD roads are Rugudi to Kalmanga (6 km) and Kalmanga to Jaribahal (18 km). Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development Pradeep Kumar Jena said Rugudi-Kalamanga road would have a bridge. The roads would be completed by July, 2021.
Principal secretary, Steel and Mines Surendra Kumar outlined the issues for discussion.
