Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has proposed an alternative national highway from Sambalpur to Jharsuguda to boost western Odisha’s connectivity, during his meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Pradhan highlighted the need for this route to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate heavy vehicle movement between the two industrial hubs Sambalpur and Jharsuguda. This will not only streamline traffic but also boost industrial growth and regional development, marking a new era in western Odisha’s economy.
Gadkari has positively received Pradhan’s proposal, which is expected to improve goods transportation, business growth, and overall economic development in the region.
Taking to his X handle, Pradhan wrote: “Met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri @nitin_gadkari to request the construction of an alternative national highway from Sambalpur to Jharsuguda. This national highway will connect Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, serving as a milestone in the industrial and regional development sector of Odisha.”
It is pertinent to note that the Centre has taken several initiatives to boost Sambalpur’s infrastructure. To address the city’s traffic woes, a 6-lane flyover spanning 3.5 km has been approved at a cost of Rs 374 crore. Additionally, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has finalized the tender process for a 35-km, 4-lane bypass road under the Bharatmala project as part of Sambalpur’s ring road.
