Bhubaneswar: As the state gears up for the festive season of Dussehra, a high-level review meeting was held in Bhubaneswar to tackle the issue of poor road conditions. Chaired by Law, Public Works and Excise Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, the meeting brought together officials to strategize on ensuring smooth and hassle-free travel for citizens.
Minister Shri Harichandan emphasized the government’s commitment to repairing roads damaged during the recent monsoon. He instructed engineers to leverage their expertise to not only repair but also build durable and high-quality roads.
The minister announced a strict timeline for the repair work, with all major roads across cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, and Sambalpur to be cleared by September 20. A complete renovation of the most dilapidated roads is slated to begin on October 2.
A new policy is also in the works to address the long-term durability of roads and fix accountability for damages. A key focus of this new policy will be to streamline the process for organizations that frequently dig up roads for utility work.
Principal Secretary, Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, highlighted the lack of coordination among various civic agencies like BMC, IDCO, OPTCL, and WATCO, which often results in the deterioration of newly constructed roads. The meeting delved into finding a solution to this recurring problem to ensure road longevity.
In attendance were a host of political leaders and senior officials, including Ekamra MLA Shri Babu Singh, Jayadeb MLA Shri Nabakishore Mallick, Choudhary-Cuttack MLA Shri Sauvik Biswal, BMC Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das, CMC Mayor Shri Subash Chandra Singh, and other senior engineers and department officials.
The Minister has directed engineers to conduct on-site inspections within two days and submit reports on the state of the roads.