The National Highway projects in Odisha were reviewed by Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy here on Wednesday.
Taking a project-wise review, Tripathy wanted to know about the problems and bottlenecks in process of implementation and directed the executing agencies to complete the projects well before the scheduled time by enhancing implementation capacity at the ground level.
Presenting details of the projects, Chief General Manager NHAI Ramprasad Panda said no issue relating to the projects was pending with the State Government. He mentioned that presently 5,753 km of NH roads were there in the State out of which 1,912 km were under the charge of NHAI and 2,935 km under the charge of Roads and Buildings Department. Additional 906 km roads in the State had been declared as NH and they would be soon entrusted either to the NHAI or to State for up-keeping, told Panda.
A review showed presently 22 number of upgrading projects including 4-laning, 6-laning, fly over and bridge projects were under implementation in the State. A target has been set to complete construction of 366 km of NH in the FY 2019-20 with a total estimated cost of around Rs 20,000 crore. Out of this, so far 173 km has been completed with utilisation of around Rs 1,651 crore. The Chief Secretary directed to expedite construction works through constant monitoring of the contract agreements.
Four-laning of the Panikoili-Rimuli section of NH 215 (New NH-20) figured in the meeting. CGM Panda appraised that there was 95 per cent physical progress in the work out of the total length of around 166 km. 4-laning was completed in 152 km and 2 laning was completed in 14 km. There was no issue pending with the State Government for progress of the project.
The problems cropped up at the level of concessioner and the lender. The balance work included around seven km of carriage way, three bridges, one elephant under pass and around nine km of service roads, he told. He added that the problems would be resolved soon and the balance work would be completed expeditiously.
Panda said, “A new mega NH project Raipur-Vishakhpatnam is in pipeline. Around 240 km of the project will run through the districts of Nabarangpur and Koraput. This will be a greenfield 6-lane project."
