Naveen requests Gadkari to expedite NH projects

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government requested the Centre to expedite implementation of different national highway (NH) projects in the State and the flyover at Khandagiri Square in the Capital City.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised the issues during his meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at New Delhi on Wednesday. Naveen informed Gadkari that many important works on NHs in Odisha are pending and considerably delayed on account of non-finalisation of tenders. “I impressed on the Minister (Nitin Gadkari) to finalise the tender processes and complete pending critical works on National Highways in Odisha involving 6 stretches and road length up to 585 km,” he said.

An official release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Gadkari assured the Chief Minister that priority will be accorded to the pending NH projects in Odisha and appropriate action relating to finalisation of tenders and completion of the works within a defined time will be taken. He assured to consider the proposal of the Chief Minister to declare 30 eligible State roads as NHs.
Naveen said construction of flyover at Khandagiri on NH-16 is an acute necessity as this congested junction has a history of several terrible road accidents. Besides, he said construction of flyover at Gohira square leading to Infovalley-2 near Khurda on NH-16 that is required to address the serious problem of congestion, is yet to start.

Naveen also requested Gadkari to approve 30 eligible State roads having a length of 2483 kms, proposal for which was submitted in December, 2016. Besides, he requested the union minister to declare 12 State roads of 1193 km length as NHs as the Centre accorded in-principle approval for these proposals in 2015-16 and 2016-17.Besides, the Chief Minister requested Gadkari to finalise tender process for different NHs including the four-laning of Cuttack-Angul (NH-42), four-laning of Barkote-Panposh (NH-23), six-laning of Chandikhole-Balasore (NH-16) and four-laning of Chandikhole-Duburi-Talcher Section of NH-200.