Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide detailed information to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite development and doubling of the existing National Highway network in Odisha to bolster connectivity and enable the state to realize its economic potential.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on Wednesday, Pradhan said he had a review meeting on the status of roads in Odisha with the officials of the Ministry and NHAI in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Pradhan said at the meeting he came to know that Odisha has existing 4847 kms of NH network with 1912 kms entrusted with NHAI and 2935 km entrusted to the Public Works Department (PWD). Besides, another 494 km of NH network has been declared and shall be entrusted to the NHAI/PWD to undertake the work soon. Further, a total of 1278 km has been accorded in-principle approval for NH and PWD has been entrusted to the DPR work. Under the ambitious Bharatmala project 485 km has been approved and its DPR work has been taken up by the NHAI. Also 324 km of road have been approved under NH connectivity for backward areas/religious/tourist places (BRT) scheme and DPR work for the same has also been undertaken by the NHAI. In addition to these, various other roads adding up to 2526 km have been identified for having potential for development as National Highways, taking the total length of existing, under implementation and planned National Highway network in Odisha to 9954 kms.
The Union minister said insofar as the 2526 km of potential NH network in the state is concerned, it was brought to his notice that the Ministry has moved the Odisha government vide letter dated March 6, 2018 to furnish requisite details at the earliest so that further action can be initiated by the Ministry at the earliest.
“As you are aware the Centre is committed to expeditious development and doubling of the existing NH network in Odisha to bolster connectivity and enable the state to realize its economic potential, I take this opportunity to request your personal intervention to expedite the process of providing necessary particulars sought by the Ministry at the earliest in the best interests of the state,” Pradhan said in the letter.
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