With a view to combat Left Wing Extremism in the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the Union transport minister C P Joshi for early approval of 45 roads covering 1358 km at a cost of Rs 2674 crore.
Joshi assured Patnaik that his ministry is committed to provide roads in Naxal affected districts and the proposal for 45 new roads forming part of the second phase will be approved during the current financial year.
Apprising the Union minister on loss of life and large scale damage caused by the unprecedented floods in Orissa, Patnaik has sought Rs 50 crore for repair and restoration work of the damage caused to national highways by the floods.
He also requested that upgradation of two approved national highways to four-lane standards- Panikoili to Remuli and Talcher to Chandikhole may be taken up at the earliest.
There is a need to provide adequate funds for ordinary repair and maintenance of national highways in the state, besides providing Rs 36 crore for periodic renewal of specified stretches of national highways which have been approved for upgradation under National Highways Development Programme, Patnaik he stressed.
