Gadkari to open, lay foundation of projects worth Rs 3,200cr

Cuttack: Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, is scheduled to visit Odisha on Thursday for a series of high-profile infrastructure inaugurations and foundation stone-laying ceremonies.
The minister will commence his daylong tour with an address at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, where he will deliver a lecture on ‘Infrastructure Development and Odisha' at the Seven Pillars of Wisdom hall. "The minister will also inaugurate a painting exhibition in the university's heritage hall," said Kahnu Charan Mallick, university registrar.
The highlight of Gadkari's visit will be the evening public meeting at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar, where he will inaugurate 16 major National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects and lay foundation stones for 17 new initiatives, collectively worth Rs 3,200 crore.
Works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told reporters that the projects include 13 national highway works and four bridge projects under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). "These projects will cover 105 km across Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts," he said.
Key projects include the four-laning of Banarpal-Godibandha stretch and the widening of the Daringbadi ghat portion on NH-59. Harichandan added that Gadkari is expected to make significant announcements regarding new infrastructure initiatives and plans to accelerate national highway expansion in Odisha.
The visit underscores the central govt's commitment to enhancing Odisha's infrastructure development, with several major road projects in the pipeline.