Odisha Govt To Construct 3,000 Km Roads & 9 Major Bridges In 2023-24 Fiscal

Bhubaneswar: The Works department of Odisha government on Saturday announced several road construction projects to be taken up in 2023-24 financial year.

Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Works Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said his department has been allocated Rs 4,600 crore in the state budget 2023-24 for construction of 3,000 km of roads and 9 major bridges under the road development programme (RDP). The last year’s budget allocation for this sector was Rs 1890 crore, he added.

“Among major projects that would be taken up in this fiscal include six-laning of Cuttack ring road, four-laning of Cuttack-Paradip road, four-laning of Kapilprasad-Jatni road in Bhubaneswar and six-lane road along Daya west canal in Bhubaneswar,” he said.

The department would also take up development of Taldanda Canal road in Cuttack and ring roads around Berhampur, Balangir and Sambalpur. Besides these roads, the department would also construct bridges on Kathajodi river at Trishulia, Baitarani river at Chandbali and Brahmani river at Anandpur, Mallick added.

The minister further said the government was planning to start the second phase of the Biju Expressway connecting Berhampur and Jeypore with a cost of Rs 6000 crore. The land acquisition process for the project has already been started.

Besides, Rs 698.50 crore has been allocated under RIDF for development and construction of bridges and roads in rural areas, he added.

Principal secretary, Works department Vir Vikram Yadav was also present at the press meet.