Odisha Govt To Build 15,000-KM Road In 5 Years: Minister Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday said that 15,000 kms of high-quality roads will be constructed in the state during the next five years to improve the road infrastructure further.

This was stated by Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan who outlined plans to strengthen the road infrastructure while presenting the demand of grants for the department in the Assembly.

Stating that budgetary provision of Rs 5,295.12 crore has been made under the road development programme this year, the Minister said that development of 2,000 kms long road and work on 20 bridges and two Road Over Bridges (ROBs) are proposed to be taken up.

Under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, the state government has made a provision of Rs 700 crore in 2024-25 financial year. As many as 250 km long road and 10 high level bridges will be constructed.

The Minister said Rs 236.30 crore budgetary provision has been made for the Capital Road Development Programme in financial year 2024-25. Development of 20 kms long road will be taken up under the programme.

Work on the stretches of Kelucharna Park-Patia, Patia-Pahala, construction of a four-lane road through Sainik School, Patharagaida-Raghunathpur, a ring road from Patharagadia, development of Daya West Canal road, the Bhubaneswar Outer Ring road, Construction of flyovers at Mausimaa Chhak and Kalpana Chhak will be carried out.

The Works department proposed a budgetary outlay of Rs 350 crore for the Integrated Development of Heritage, Monuments and Tourist Destination Programme in the financial year 2024-25.

The Minister said Rs 50 crore budgetary outlay has been provisioned for the SAMALEI project. Another Rs 50 Cr budgetary provision has been made for the EKAMRA Plan in the financial year 2024-25.

The State government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 40 Crore under the RCPLWEA scheme for development of the road projects in LWE-affected Korpaut, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Phulbani districts, the Minister added.

The Minister presented a demand of grants of Rs 11,138.25 crore for the Works department in the Assembly.