NH Expansion: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Points Out Slow Progress In Odisha Stretches

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Union Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari to expedite the expansion work of Cuttack-Angul and Sambalpur-Angul sections of NH 42 (55).

In a letter to Gadkari on Friday, Pradhan said he had received a petition from the people of Boinda in Angul district pointing out inordinate delay in completion of the expansion of the National Highway sections passing through Odisha.

The petitioners said the foundation of the NH was laid in December 2018 and target to be completed by September 2020. But it remains incomplete till date.

The construction of two bridges at Panimahar and Chandan Pokhiri has not yet been completed while seven elephant under pass (EUP) is also pending, Pradhan said in the letter.

Besides, the locals have claimed that the quality of the project work executed by  Gayatri Projects Ltd was not upto the mark. As a result, road accidents have been reported from the newly constructed stretches regularly. Around 600 lives have been lost in several road accidents in this area during last 4 years.

Pradhan also said the land compensation amount at revised rate has not been paid to the land losers in many places..