Berhampur: The much-awaited flyover at Gate Bazar Square, one of the Silk City Berhampur’s most traffic-choked junctions, is set to be completed within two years.
The estimated cost of this flyover which is 1,136 metres long, 22 metres wide, with 5.5-meter-wide service roads on each side equipped with a proper drainage system flyover, is Rs 130.54 crore. Rs 79.10 crore will be spent only for civil construction.
The flyover will run from Niladri Vihar on Aska Road to the old gate of the City Hospital with 33 pillars, according to Prabhat Kumar Panigrahi General Manager of Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), a stat PSU which specialises in civil engineering projects.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 29 led by Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar, following the earlier foundation stone laying by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The process started since January 15 last and to be completed by January 15, 2027.
Once completed, the flyover is expected to alleviate heavy traffic congestion at the Gate Bazar Square, where five roads towards Lochapada, Dalua Sahi, New Bus Stand, City Hospital and Digapahandi converge and NH-59 passes through. Residents and officials alike are optimistic about its potential to significantly improve traffic flow in the area.
The district administration has begun processes for acquiring required land by coordination between TPSODL, WATCO, Odisha Forest Corporation and Department of Revenue. 170 roadside trees were removed by the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC). Utility arrangements are underway, including shifting electric poles and water pipelines in coordination with the relevant agencies with plans to minimize commuter disruption via a temporary bus stand.
To ease traffic disruption during construction of the flyover, the Berhampur Development Authority (BeDA) will construct a temporary bus stand on land belonging to the Power Department at First Gate. The estimated cost for this diversion plan is Rs 74 lakh.
