Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister and Sambalpur Member of Parliament Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari to initiate the construction of a bypass road around Rairakhol town in Sambalpur district to ease traffic congestion and ensure safe commuting.
In a letter to Gadkari, Pradhan highlighted a representation submitted by the residents of Rairakhol, supported by the Bar Association, Truck Owners Association, Senior Citizen Forum, and local journalists, seeking a bypass outside the town limits.
Pradhan pointed out that National Highway-55 is one of the busiest highways in the region and that Rairakhol town has been witnessing rapid infrastructure growth. He noted that key government establishments such as the Sub-Divisional Office and Sub-Divisional Hospital, along with educational institutions like Bhima Bhoi Degree College, have significantly increased public movement during office hours.
He further stated that the passage of heavy vehicles through the narrow town roads, which are not designed for highway traffic, has led to frequent traffic congestion, posing serious risks of road accidents and causing inconvenience to students, patients, and senior citizens.
Emphasising the larger public interest, Pradhan requested the Union Minister’s personal intervention and sought directions to the concerned authorities for the construction of a bypass around Rairakhol town.
