Odisha targets 489 km national highways network in FY17

The state government has targeted to add 489 km of national highways (NH) to the existing network in 2016-17. During 2014-15 and 2015-16, 867.39 km of NH was developed in the state.

A high-level review meeting held on Wednesday revealed that 22 national highways are passing through Odisha after renaming of the roads.These high ways include the NH-16, 18, 20, 26, 49, 53, 55, 57, 59, 63,130C,143, 149, 153B, 157, 220, 316, 326, 326A, 353, 516 & 520.

The total length of these roads running through the state is around 4,849.42 km out of which total 3,387 km of roads have been assigned to state public works department (PWD) and 1,462.42 km have been assigned to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for development.

 

Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi emphasized on development of the NH from Vizag to Jagdalpur, which connects Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.The road passes through Sunki-Koraput-Jeypore-Nabrangour-Buriguma-Kotpad in Odisha. Padhi also emphasized on expediting the works in Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & Jharkhand.

NHAI has completed development of 610 km and work for 529 km is under progress. The bidding process for around 243 km is completed and the projects for development 596 km are in the pipeline. The chief secretary has emphasized on fixing monthly targets for completion.

The state government had submitted 44 projects to the union ministry of roads and highways with an estimated cost of Rs 1,047 crore under Central Road Fund out of which the ministry has given in-principle approval to 12 projects worth Rs 400.97 crore.

Apart from this, the state had submitted two projects with an estimated cost of Rs 148 crore under Inter State Connectivity Scheme and two projects with an estimated cost of Rs 198 crore under roads of economic importance scheme. All these four projects have received in-principle approval from the ministry.