Gadkari lays foundation stone for three NH projects in Odisha

Dhenkanal: Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today did Bhoomi Pujan for three National Highways projects of a total length of 132 km in Odisha, worth Rs 2345 Crores.

The foundation stones for the projects were laid at a function held at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district.

The projects are: Four laning of the 41.726 km Talcher-Kamakhyanagar section of NH 200/23, (New NH 53) at a cost of Rs 795.18 Crore; the 51.1 km Kamakhyanagar-Duburi section of NH 200 (New NH 53) at a cost of Rs 761.11 Crore and 39.4 km Duburi-Chandikhole section of NH 200 (New NH 53) at a cost of Rs 789.23 Crore.

The above projects will have appropriate structures to reduce traffic congestion and ensure safety of road users. These would include 3 bypasses, 1 Flyover, 19 Vehicular Underpasses, 9 Major and 39 Minor Bridges and 45 km of service road.

These NH projects will ensure better connectivity of the mineral rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha with the rest of the state. By reducing traffic congestion and the travel time between places, the projects would help in reducing the operating cost of vehicles and bring down the levels of pollution. All this will help generate employment opportunities in the region and improve the socio-economic condition of the local people.

On the occasion, Gadkari urged the Odisha Government for early clearance of files related to environment, forest, land acquisition and CRZ in connection with the 450 km-long Coastal Highways project in Odisha. “If the state government cooperates, we can initiate the project work within 4-6 months,” he said.