The progress of work on the proposed Vijaywada-Ranchi corridor, crucial for Orissa in view of the growing naxal activities in the region, has been very slow with only 21 km of the state’s portion being completed.
However, the work in another 198 km is under different stages of implementation, S N Patro, minister of revenue and disaster management and in charge of works department said. The minister said, Orissa portion of the proposed corridor has a length of 1219 km. Out of it, 983 km is under the state public works department and the remaining 236 km is under the national highway. The work was completed for 21 km (the state PWD portion) in this corridor for which Rs 20 crore additional Central assistance (ACA) was provided in 2006-07. The work is under progress in about 62 km patch for which Rs 20 crore additional Central assistance (ACA) and Rs 100 crore special grant of the planning commission was received.
Similarly, out of Rs 120.05 crore provided to the state from the Central Road Fund (CRF), the work is under progress for roads worth Rs 38.25 crore and tender process is going on for works worth Rs 81.8 crore. Work is also in progress for 46.7km for which the state government provided Rs 100 crore in the state plan.
Patro said, Rs 300 crore was allocated for this road project during 2008-09, which included Rs 100 crore each from Central Road Fund, special grant of the planning commission and state’s own resources.
Sources said, the national highway (NH) wing has taken up the development of 236km of road, out of which the work in 165 km is complete. Besides, 166 km of road is proposed to be developed with the World Bank assistance under the Orissa State Road Project (OSRP) in this corridor.
