Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday directed officials to expedite the execution of two key National Highway projects and accelerate the implementation of major road infrastructure works in Bhubaneswar to improve connectivity and ease traffic congestion.
Chairing a review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan reviewed the proposals for the upgradation and widening of the Koida–Chandikhole and Rimuli–Champua National Highways. He instructed officials of the National Highways Authority and the Works Department to fast-track the preparation of project maps, land acquisition, forest clearances and other statutory approvals to ensure the projects are completed within the stipulated timeline.
The minister said the two highway projects would strengthen Odisha’s mineral economy, industrial growth, tourism and transport network, while contributing to the state’s overall development.
Later in the day, Harichandan chaired another review meeting to assess the progress of major road infrastructure projects aimed at providing a long-term solution to Bhubaneswar’s growing traffic congestion and improving the movement of vehicles across the city.
The review covered several ongoing and proposed projects, including the Bhubaneswar Inner and Outer Ring Road, the Jaydev Vihar–Nandankanan Road, the Left Parallel Road, the Pathargadia–Daruthenga Road, the Sikharachandi–Pathargadia–Raghunathpur connecting road, the Kalinga Park–Patia Railway Station Road, the Kalinga Park–Phulnakhara Road, the proposed six-lane high-level bridge over the Kuakhai River, the D.N. Rengalia–Kalinganagar Road, the Sum Hospital–Sampur Road, the Khandagiri–Pokhariput Elevated Corridor, the connecting road from NH-16 to AIIMS Chowk, the Power House–CRPF Chowk Road, the Daya West Canal Road and the proposed elevated corridor on the Bhubaneswar–Puri Road.
The minister asked officials to speed up surveys, project designs, statutory clearances and execution while ensuring quality standards in construction. He said the projects would help develop a world-class road network in the state capital and significantly improve traffic management.
The meetings were attended by Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, senior officials of the National Highways Authority of India, and engineers and officials of the Works Department.
