Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s road infrastructure development is gathering pace, with the state government reviewing the progress of 48 major National Highway projects and announcing the completion of 49 projects worth ₹1,721 crore, Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Monday.
Chairing a review meeting at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Hall, Harichandan said the state is making significant strides in strengthening its road network under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in line with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s commitment to infrastructure development.
“We have performed better in infrastructure development compared to previous years. However, to maintain this momentum and ensure faster execution of projects, clear and specific targets must be set,” the minister said.
The meeting reviewed 48 National Highway-related projects, each estimated to cost more than ₹50 crore. Harichandan said the Central Government remains willing to extend additional financial support to Odisha for infrastructure development, while emphasizing the need for systematic planning and coordinated efforts by departmental officials.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the minister announced that 49 completed projects worth ₹1,721 crore would be inaugurated shortly. He also revealed that foundation stones for 47 new projects, involving an investment of ₹12,102 crore, would be laid in the near future.
Principal Secretary of the Works Department Sanjay Kumar Singh urged engineers and officials to improve efficiency in key areas such as land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, project planning and design, and inter-departmental coordination to expedite project implementation.
The review covered 30 ongoing projects, 14 projects awaiting work orders, and four projects currently in the tendering stage. Major projects discussed included the Bhajanagar-Aska Road, Riamal Bypass Road, Berhampur Bypass, Khariar Road Rail Over Bridge (ROB), Puri-Matiapada ROB, Nayagarh Bypass, Keshinga ROB, high-level bridge on the Malkangiri-Motu Road, Kandarpur-Balikuda Road, Kotpad Bypass, Kuakhia-Mangalpur Road, Titlagarh Bypass, high-level bridges over the Baitarani and Tel rivers, Nabarangpur Bypass, Jharsuguda Bypass, Rairangpur Bypass and Dasapalla Bypass.
Discussions were also held on projects awaiting work orders and those under the tender process to identify measures for accelerating their execution.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief-cum-Special Secretary of the Works Department L.K. Padhi, Financial Advisor Ratikanta Mahapatra, Chief Engineer (National Highways)-I Narayan Patel, Chief Engineer-II Deepak Kumar Panigrahi, senior officials from the Power Department, OPTCL, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and representatives of contracting agencies.
