Bhubaneswar: Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged his cabinet colleague and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to to upgrade existing national highways, stretching from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to Talcher in Angul district via Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Sambalpur in Odisha, to an eight-lane economic corridor in view of growing industrial traffic.
“This stretch of approximately 300 km, starting from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh and extending up to Ballhar at Talcher, has the presence of three major industrial areas, namely the Ib valley area (thermal power, sponge iron, refractories, and coal mines), Hirakud area (aluminum & rolling mills) and Talcher-Angul area (thermal power, aluminum, coal washeries, ferroalloys, coal mines). Rapid industrialisation in recent times and growing economic activity in these areas have made it not only the industrial backbone of the state but also for the nation,” Dharmendra said in his letter.
He further wrote that this stretch is served by NH-49 [Kanaktora (Old-Chhattisgarh border)-Jharsuguda-Tileibani] and NH-53 (Deogarh-Reamal-Godibandha-Ballahar) and these highways have expanded and upgraded in the last eight years. At present, different packages of various developmental works are in progress to expand NH-49 into a four-lane Highway and NH-53 as well.
“The volume of traffic, freight, and industrial transport through this stretch is only set to grow exponentially in the coming years. In view of the potential of the above stretch covering the Ib Valley, Hirakud Area, and Angul-Talcher region, I take this opportunity to request you to consider upgrading this stretch to an economic corridor of eight lanes which will go a long way in ensuring improved infrastructure for the present and upcoming industries in these areas as well as boosting the economy of the state and the nation as a whole,” he added.
