BHUBANESWAR: In a major infrastructure push in Balasore district, the state cabinet on Tuesday approved the tender for a bridge over the Subarnarekha river.
The 993-metre long and 62-metre wide bridge, to be developed with an investment of Rs 138.75 crore, will provide direct link between Baliapal and Bhograi blocks in the district.
“The Subarnarekha river is creating a barrier between the economically and culturally important places on both sides of the river. The proposed bridge will ensure connectivity boost to the economically and culturally important places like Subarnarekha mouth port, Chandaneswar, Bhusandeswar and Talsari beach,” state works secretary Krishan Kumar said.
“Besides reducing the distance between Baliapal and Bhograi blocks, the bridge will also help in economic development of the people in the area,” Kumar added.
While seven bidders had qualified to implement the bridge project, the state cabinet selected infrastructure-giant L&T Geo. The project, targeted to be completed within 30 months, will be developed with funding from the Central Road Fund, said an official source.
Implementation of the proposed bridge is significant in view of the upcoming port at Subarnarekha mouth and also a mega petrochemical complex and downstream industries in Baliapal block. As the state government has planned to develop Talsari beach and nearby areas in Balasore district, the bridge will serve as a major boost to road communication.
Among others, the state cabinet also gave its nod to the Odisha Goods and Services Tax (amendment) Bill, 2020, which will be tabled in the forthcoming session of the assembly, scheduled from September 29.
“Following recommendations of the GST council, the Union and state governments made necessary changes in the central GST and state GST acts, respectively. Accordingly, the central government had made some amendments and we had also promulgated two ordinances to facilitate extension of dates for filing returns in view of Covid-19. The proposed bill will replace two ordinances,” state finance secretary Ashok Kumar Meena said.
The proposed bill will also provide certain facilities to the tax payers and tax authorities. The bill also proposes stringent penal provisions for availing input tax credit in a fraudulent manner by making it a cognizable and non-bailable offence. The bill will be tabled as a money bill in the assembly. The bill will have provision to extend the due date in case of war, epidemic, flood, fire, cyclone, drought and earthquake.
The cabinet also approved amendment of the Odisha Local Fund Audit Act, 1948, to include electronic mode of service for surcharge notices and orders.