Bhubaneswar: Road infrastructure in Odisha is set to get a major boost during Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s visit to the state on April 17.
The Union Minister is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Rs 3,200 crore worth 17 projects, including 13 National Highway (NH) works and 4 bridge projects under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) at an event at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar.
The highway projects involve new road constructions and widening works in Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Nayagarh districts over a stretch of 105 km. These include four-laning of Banarpal-Godibandha at a cost of Rs 973 crore, widening of Daringbadi ghat portion of NH-59 at Rs 718 crore, and widening of NH-10 from Mangalpur to Kayangola, including spur to Aradi at Rs 374 crore.
To ease traffic congestion and ensure uninterrupted connectivity during floods, four bridges will be constructed on vital stretches, including Berhampur-Gopalpur and Rourkela-Biramitrapur roads, at an estimated cost of Rs 427 crore.
Gadkari will also inaugurate two projects worth Rs 820 crore – four-laning of Talcher to Kamakhyanagar NH-149 and 53 built at a cost of Rs 795 crore and vehicle under passes at Balikuda, Sikharpur and Badachana on NH-16 at Rs 46 crore.
During this visit, the Union Minister will also attend the Dr Harekrushna Mahatab Memorial Lecture at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack to mark the birth anniversary of the former chief minister.
Earlier speaking to the media, Works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had said that Gadkari is also expected to make key announcements related to the road sector, including new infrastructure initiatives. He added that plans are afoot to accelerate national highway expansion, which will reduce travel time and promote investment through better connectivity, with support from the Centre.
