Projects in Berhampur hang firedue to the apathy of the State Government

BERHAMPUR: Several development projects in Berhampur continue to hang fire due to the apathy of the State Government, said Ram Prasad Tripathy, president of Odisha Development Forum.

In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Tripathy said  in order to ease traffic congestion in the city, the Government had announced a 46-km Ring Road project the foundation stone of which was laid in 2015. “Later, high level committees also reviewed the project, meant to boost development of the proposed Greater Berhampur comprising Berhampur, Chhatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjili”, he said. Tripathy said three years have passed since the foundation stone for the project was laid, but tender for the Ring Road is yet to be floated and the proposal remains a non-starter.

Similarly, the State Government had announced the merger of 18 panchayats with Berhampur Municipal Corporation in 2008. “Almost 10 years have passed but nothing has been done in this regard,” Tripathy said.

Besides, while there is growing demand for merger of Chhatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjili under Berhampur city limits to form Greater Berhampur Municipal Corporation, the State Government seems least bothered to pay heed to the demands of the people and to ensure planned growth of the city, Tripathy said.