Bhubaneswar: Since 2014, the Government of India has awarded 174 National Highway (NH) projects and spent Rs 35,131 crore to enhance connectivity and promote local development in the State.
This was informed by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari in Lok Sabha today.
While replying to a question of BJP MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, the Union Minister said the Centre is giving priority to road infrastructure development in the aspirational districts of Odisha for their local socio-economic development and improved connectivity to major urban centers.
The Ministry has taken up 28 NH projects in different parts of the State while another 14 NH projects were approved but yet to be commenced.
Cuttack-Angul section of NH-42 (New NH-55), Package I of estimated cost of Rs 1108.62 crore and Package II worth Rs 1109.80 crore, he said.
Under Raipur-Visakhapatnam economic corridor, the Ministry has approved 6 lane Greenfield Kaliagura to Baunsagura of NH-130 (Rs 1918.49 crore), 6 laning of Baunsagura to Baraja section (Rs 1632.17 crore), and 6 lane Baraja to Kandili section (Rs 922.59 crore).
Tourist destinations like Puri, Konark, Satapada, Jiranga, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Similipal Tiger Reserve are well connected with National Highways NH-316, NH326A, NH-20, and NH-49, respectively, he said.
He mentioned that the Centre has approved 4-lane with paved shoulder Access controlled Coastal Highway from Rameshwar to Paradip (162 km) with an estimated cost of Rs 9579.20 crore and widening of existing Puri-Konark road to 4 lane road with a cost of Rs 800 crore.
These two projects are expected to benefit the State Tourism sector and improve access to cultural & heritage sites like Puri, Konark, and coastal regions of the State, Shri Gadkari said.
He further informed that various measures, like use of fly ash, slag, construction & demolition waste, inert materials of landfill, waste plastic, crumb rubber modified bitumen, milling & recycling, geosynthetics including jute & coir, ground granulated blast furnace slag, etc., are taken for sustainable and environment friendly development of NH projects including in tourism areas and aspirational districts for their long term development.