Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering the state’s economic progress through the rapid strengthening of road networks and infrastructure.
Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and Works Minister Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan have consistently emphasized that financial constraints will not hinder developmental projects.
Following this vision, Principal Secretary, Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, chaired high-level review meetings at Lok Seva Bhawan to expedite the completion of ongoing projects within their stipulated timelines.
The review encompassed an extensive list of critical infrastructure projects, including National Highways, State Highways, and Railway Over Bridges (ROBs). During the session, Shri Singh evaluated the progress of the Capital Region Ring Road, the Sambalpur Bypass, and major arterial routes such as the Chandikhole-Paradeep and Duburi-Chandikhole roads. The Coastal Highway project, a key initiative for regional connectivity, was also a primary focus of the discussion.
Detailed assessments were conducted for several bypass projects intended to de-congest urban centers, including those in Berhampur, Khordha, Nayagarh Town, Jeypore, Kotpad, Baghamari, Balangir Town, Nabarangpur, Dharmagarh, and Borigumma. Additionally, the meeting touched upon the widening and improvement of the Bhanjanagar-Aska road, the Jharikela-Panposh stretch, and the Kuakhia-Mangalpur road. The Principal Secretary also scrutinized the construction status of high-level bridges over major rivers, including the Baitarani and Tel.
To ensure projects remain on track, Principal Secretary Shri Singh issued strict directives to departmental officers, Chief Engineers, and Superintending Engineers to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest clearances, and utility shifting immediately.
In a dedicated session regarding railway infrastructure, the progress of 165 Railway Over Bridges across the state was reviewed. The projects located in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Rourkela, and Balasore were specifically monitored. Engineers were instructed to work in close coordination with District Collectors and land acquisition officers to remove any bottlenecks stalling these essential links.
The meeting saw participation from Special Secretary Engr. L.K. Padhi, Engineer-in-Chief (Bridges) Engr. Arabinda Tripathi, Deputy Secretary Engr. Sundar Madhab Padhi, Chief Engineer (NH) Engr. Narayan Patel, and Financial Advisor Shri Ratikant Mohapatra. Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers from various districts also joined the deliberations via video conferencing to provide real-time updates on regional progress.