Centre okays Rs 761 crore road project in north Odisha

Project expected to reduce time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Jharpokharia, Baripada

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government today approved a road expansion project proposal worth Rs 761 crore in north Odisha, which will be implemented through Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) pattern.

The committee today gave its approval for four laning with paved shoulders of Jharpokharia-Baripada-Baleswar section of National Highway 5 (NH-5) in Odisha under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV.

“The cost is estimated to be Rs 760.73 crore including the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road will be approximately 80.6 km,” said a release from Press Information Bureau.

The project is expected to reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Jharpokharia, Baripada and Baleswar. It will also provide a better connectivity for some of the upcoming minor ports that are designed to be built across the coast of the state in Baleswar district.

The Baripada-Baleswar road stretch is intercepted by two major National Highways namely NH-6 (Kolkata-Mumbai route) at the starting point and NH-60 at the end point.

“Development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region. It will also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities,” the release said.

Baleswar district houses some key industries such as ferrochrome plant of Baleswar Alloys, Birla Tyres, many plastic industries and is home to missile test range of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Adjacent Mayurbhanj district, which possess some iron ore mines, is home to biggest reserve forest Similipal and has a sizable tribal population.