BJD urges Centre for early completion of national highway projects in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs today met Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh and submitted a memorandum seeking early completion of several national highway projects in Odisha.

Odisha has emerged as a preferred destination for investment. However, several national highway projects in the state are either pending or delayed due to slow pace of work, said the memorandum.

The delegation comprising Rajya Sabha MPs Sasmit Patra, Amar Patnaik and Sulata Deo urged the Union Minister for early completion of Cuttack-Sambalpur National Highway and Rajamunda-Barkote National Highway.

The delegation also sought proper repair and maintenance of Keonjhar-Mayurbhanj National Highway.

The BJD MPs requested the Union Minister to conduct a survey of all national highways in Odisha and undertake proper maintenance of the same. “It has been noticed that the national highways running through Odisha are being neglected. Several stretches of these national highways are now in a bad condition,” said the memo.

In their memorandum, the BJD MPs also raised the pending case of Coastal Highway project in Odisha.

The delegation pleaded for national highway status to the road stretches between Palasa-Padampur and Balangir-Udyanbandh in Odisha.

“The Odisha government under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been working hard to ensure the holistic development of 4.5 crore people of the state. Delay in the completion of national highway projects in the state is affecting its growth process. We therefore request you to complete the pending projects at the earliest and ensure proper maintenance of the national highways in Odisha,” said the BJD MPs in their memo.