Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday performed Bhoomi Pujan for three National Highway projects of total length of 132 km worthRs 2,345 cr in the State.
The foundation stones for the projects were laid at a function held at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district.
The projects are: four laning of the 41.726 km Talcher-Kamakhyanagar section of NH-200/23, (New NH-53) at a cost of Rs 795.18 crore; a 51.1-km Kamakhyanagar-Duburi section of NH-200 (New NH-53) at a cost of Rs 761.11 crore and a 39.4-km Duburi-Chandikhol section of NH-200 (New NH-53) at a cost of Rs 789.23 crore.
These projects would have appropriate structures to reduce traffic congestion and ensure safety of road users. They would include three bypasses, a flyover, 19 vehicular underpasses, nine major and 39 minor bridges and 45 km of service road.
These NH projects would ensure better connectivity of the minerals-rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts with the rest of the State. By reducing traffic congestion and the travel time between places, the projects would help reduce the operating cost of vehicles and bring down the levels of pollution. All this would help generate employment opportunities in the region and improve the socioeconomic condition of local people.
Gadkari urged the State Government for early clearance of files relating to environment, forest, land acquisition and CRZ in connection with the State’s 450 km-long Coastal Highways project. “If the State Government cooperates, we can initiate the project work within for to six months,” he said.