Dharmendra’s Review Pumps Up Work On Coastal Highway & Bhubaneswar Ring Road Projects

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewing the Coastal Highway and the capital region ring road (CRRR) projects, during his four-day tour of Odisha, has raised hope for their expeditious implementation.

Though Dharmendra heads the Education Ministry, he has been playing a key role in facilitating the Centre’s approval for these projects by coordinating with various ministries since 2014.

It is also been seen as an attempt to bolster BJP’s support base in the coastal districts.

On Sunday, he chaired a meeting with senior officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and if sources are to be believed, land acquisition for the projects will start soon. The state government has already given the go-ahead to both projects.

“We have sought the approval from the land acquisition (LA) committee of the NHAI. Once we get the green light, the district collectors concerned will be asked to start the land acquisition process,” said a senior NHAI official who was part of the meeting.

They are hopeful of getting the LA committee’s approval for the CRRR project next month.

After over six years of deadlock over its alignment (proposed path), the Naveen Patnaik government on August 8 gave its consent to the ambitious Rs 8,000-crore coastal highway project that would connect Odisha’s Tangi with West Bengal’s Digha. The 382- km highway to be taken up under the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana will be developed as a greenfield project, avoiding ecologically sensitive areas like Chilika lake, Balukhand wildlife sanctuary, Bhitarakanika National Park and turtle nesting grounds.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Approves Coastal Highway With Changed Alignment

The 112-km CRRR, on the other hand, would reduce traffic congestion by providing parallel connectivity of NH-16, bypassing Khurda town, Bhubaneswar city, Athagarh town, Cuttack city and Choudwar town. It will originate from Rameswar on NH-16, pass through NH-55 at Govindpur and terminate near Tangi on NH-16.

Also Read: Odisha CM Approves Capital Region Ring Road With 6-Lane Carriageway

The road will be developed as a 6-lane carriageway, including a major six-lane bridge over river Mahanadi, at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore, official sources said.

Dharmendra also reviewed the status of the proposed 300-km economic corridor project from Paradip to Barbil. The proposed eight-lane corridor will start from Paradip, pass through Chandikhol, Duburi, Keonjhar, Remuli and Badarsahi before ending at Barbil in Keonjhar district, providing seamless road connectivity between the mining hinterlands of the state and Paradip port.

The project was proposed during a meeting between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, in February.

Also Read: Centre’s Nod For 300-Km Paradip-Barbil Economic Corridor In Odisha