The state highway 25 in Odisha, connecting Malkangiri with the state capital, has become a commuter's nightmare with Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi KBK) chief administrator Taradutt having a first-hand experience of the deplorable road condition.
It took his convoy 6 hours to cover 105 km between Jeypore and Malkangiri on Tuesday and the official remarked "if this remains the state of affairs for another three years, Malkangiri will vanish from the map of Odisha."
"Why there has been no headway in the road project when funds have been allocated for the purpose? he questioned.
Officials said a Hyderabad-based construction company was issued work order for the Rs 159-crore road widening project. The company was required to begin the work in March, 2012 and complete it by March, 2015 but the project has not moved.
Various political parties and social groups have staged blockades, demanding completion of the road work, but to no avail.
"We have raised the deplorable state of SH-25 time and again, but the state government is yet to take any corrective step," said Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi.
Funds sanctioned for road projects, Rs 460 crore of public works department and Rs 630 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, in Malkangiri are lying unspent, he added.
The KBK chief asked the officials to start the road work soon after the monsoon. "The forest department, PWD and the administration should work in close coordination to ensure early completion of the road projects," he said.
Dutt expressed displeasure over sub-standard work of school buildings constructed by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency.
"The pace at which development projects are being taken up in Malkangiri. I think I will have to come here every month for a reality check," he added.
