Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg stated that priority is given to infrastructure projects in the annual state budget every year, as these large-scale projects are essential for the state’s development. She directed officials to resolve existing execution bottlenecks and accelerate project implementation.
The 6th Task Force meeting regarding the implementation of infrastructure development projects was held today at the conference hall of Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Odisha Chief Secretary Smt. Anu Garg.
The meeting was attended by State Development Commissioner, Shri Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Industries and I&PR, Shri Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Shri Bhaskar J Sarma, along with Principal Secretaries Water Resources, Shrimati Subha Sarma and othersSenior officials including the Managing Director of IDCO, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Officer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and senior departmental officers were also present. District Collectors from various districts participated in the meeting virtually.
At the outset, the meeting reviewed the progress of major infrastructure projects that receive special emphasis during the Prime Minister’s PRAGATI meetings. Discussions focused on the execution status of various crucial under-construction road infrastructure projects, national highway initiatives, and large-scale projects pertaining to the industries and water resources departments.
Progress on major industrial projects in various districts was reviewed. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department discussed execution details, implementation challenges, and potential solutions. Discussions with District Collectors covered current project status, steps taken, pending tasks, and directions for speedy completion. Under the Industries Department, progress and land acquisition status for the Jharsuguda, Barpali-Sardega Phase-2 rail connectivity project were reviewed.
Regarding irrigation projects under the Water Resources Department, Principal Secretary Smt. Subha Sharma shared execution details. Progress on the Kanupur project was noted as satisfactory, with directions issued to complete the main and branch canal works promptly. The Chief Secretary also reviewed and issued necessary instructions for several other projects, including the Turi-Guntat Diversion Weir Barrage in Nabarangpur district, Upper Udanti Barrage in Nuapada district, Gobindpalli Integrated River Dam project in Malkangiri district, and Piplapanka Dam project in Ganjam district.
Under the Works Department’s National Highway wing, Principal Secretary Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh presented discussions on road construction, widening, land acquisition, compensatory afforestation, and compensation distribution. Key projects discussed included the Kuakhia-Mangalpur road stretch in Jajpur, Baliguda-Mulakani road, Titilagarh city bypass road, widening and strengthening of the long route from Koksara to Nabarangpur, Rairangpur city bypass road, Dharmagarh bypass road in Kalahandi, widening and strengthening of the Daringbadi Ghat road stretch, and the expansion and strengthening of the national highway connecting Mohana, Raipanka, and Tandikona. The Chief Secretary commended the support of District Collectors in advancing these infrastructure projects and instructed them to resolve remaining issues within fixed timelines to expedite work.
Additionally, progress on projects executed by NHAI in Odisha was reviewed, including the 17 km Banarpal-Godibandha road, Cuttack-Kandarpur road progress, various segments of the Capital Region Ring Road, land acquisition compensation assistance, and related operational issues.