Centre approves widening of NH53 in Odisha's Angul district

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has approved a project to widen and strengthen the existing road to two-lane with a paved shoulder in the selected stretches including three bypasses at Rengali, Bajrakot and Takua on National Highway (NH)-53 in Angul district.
Widening and strengthening of the NH-53 in the district will be done with a budget of Rs 174.2 crore. Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said this in a series of tweets, on Sunday.
"This highway connects the major industrial and mining corridors in the state of Odisha with Paradip port. Widening and strengthening of the selected missing stretches and construction of bypasses will enable speed mobility to ensure more safety for road users," said Gadkari in his tweet.
He further said the stretch will facilitate the smooth movement of heavy vehicles and boost the socio-economic development in this industrial corridor, which consists of large companies including Coal India, NTPC and Jindal Steel.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan thanked prime minister Narendra Modi and Gadkari for the approval. "This will ensure smooth, safe and speedy mobility, aid industrial development and boost socio-economic development of Angul and adjoining region," he added.