Government of Odisha to develop 2,158 km highways under Road Development Plan

Highways in a state show the development of that area. Wide highways will increase the transportation rate which will ultimately lead to achieve the business goals. That’s why the state government has came out with plans to improve the conditions of 2,158 km state highways with an total investment of Rs 3,000 Crore in upcoming 4 years. The tender notice has been called for the 1st phase of work involving 381 km or state highways with an expenditure of Rs 633 Crore.

A new scheme has been introduced by the Government of Odisha called as State Highways Development Programme (SHDP), which will be working on doubling the State Highways within five years with an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 Crore.

A Project management Cell is going to be set up to manage and monitor the projects under SHDP scheme. The work department has been advised to engage Professional Contract Management Agency to assist the PMC to accomplish the target in due time.

The first phase of the programme include widening and strengthening of the road of 11.772 km long between Hindol and Mahidharpur on SH-64 in Dhenkanal District. The first phase also includes 11.93 km long Umerkote-Raighar-Kundei-Likma on SH-40 in Nabarangpur district, , 8.20 km Seragarh-Nilagiri-Jharanaghati on SH-19 in Balasore district and 7km Arigaon-Bishalpali road in Bolangir district.

The first phase also include Shergada- Badagada-Sorada stretch on SH-36 of 38.95 km in Ganjam district, Manamunda-Kantamala-Ghantapada-Sindhiguda (SH-41) of 24.19 km in Boudh, Banigochha-Madharpur-Khajuripada-Phulbani-Saranagada-Nuagaon-Baliguda (SH-1) of 52.52km in Kandhamal, Baliguda-Muniguda (SH-5) of 24 km in Kandhamal, Parvatipur-Laxmipur (SH-51) of 47.35 km in Koraput district, Karanjia-Thakurmunda-Satkosia-Anandapur (SH-53) of 57.22 km in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar district.

As per the decision, the Berhampur-Mandara stretch (31 km) and Shergada-Badagada-Sorada (38.95 km) in Ganjam district, Padadahandi-Umerkote-Yerla (18.60 km) and Umerkote-Raighar-Kundei-Likma (11.93 km) in Nabarangpur district and Bhawanipatana-Gunupur-Kashipur (18.90 km) in Kalahandi district will also be developed into two lanes.

In a high level meeting which has been held recently chaired by Chief Secretary, J K Mohapatra, the main emphasis was given on widening roads in the Naxal-affected districts. In the meeting, Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra asked the officials to prepare monthly work plans against each road project and accomplish the target.

The State Works Department has decided that project costing more than Rs 20 Crore will be implemented under Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode. The Chief Secretary has advised the works department to finalize contract awards of 800 km roads and finish tendering of balance roads by December 2013.