Odisha’s Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced on Monday that 49 national highway projects, totaling ₹1,721 crore, have been completed and will soon be inaugurated. Additionally, he revealed that foundation stones for 47 new highway projects, with a combined investment of ₹12,102 crore, will be laid in the near future.
Harichandan made these announcements during a review meeting focused on national highway projects, each valued at over ₹50 crore. He highlighted that several significant road infrastructure projects are currently under construction across the state, with many more in the planning stages.
The Minister emphasized the importance of efficient project execution and instructed departmental officials to implement a systematic and well-planned approach to ensure the timely completion of ongoing works and the smooth execution of upcoming projects.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Works Department, addressed departmental officers, Chief Engineers, and Superintending Engineers, urging them to enhance efficiency in areas such as land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, project planning, and design. He also stressed the need for better inter-departmental coordination to expedite project execution and address any bottlenecks.
The review meeting evaluated the progress of 30 ongoing projects, 14 projects awaiting work orders, and four projects currently in the tendering phase. Key projects discussed included the Bhanjanagar-Aska Road, Reamal Bypass Road, Berhampur Bypass, Khariar Road ROB, Puri-Matiapada ROB, Nayagarh Bypass, Kesinga ROB, a high-level bridge on the Malkangiri-Motu Road, Kandarpur-Balikuda Road, Kotpad Bypass Road, Kuakhia-Mangalpur Road, Titilagarh Bypass, high-level bridges over the Baitarani and Tel rivers, Nabarangpur Bypass, Jharsuguda Bypass Road, Rairangpur Bypass, and Daspalla Bypass, among others.
The meeting also reviewed projects that are awaiting work orders and those currently in the tendering process. Senior officials in attendance included Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department; L. K. Padhi, Engineer-in-Chief-cum-Special Secretary of the Works Department; Ratikanta Mohapatra, Financial Adviser; Narayan Patel, Chief Engineer-I of National Highways; Deepak Kumar Panigrahi, Chief Engineer-II; as well as representatives from the Energy Department, OPTCL, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, various departments, Superintending Engineers from different zones, and representatives from contracting agencies.
