The State Government has developed an Odisha Road Network Data Base on the basis of GIS mapping, traffic survey, socioeconomic data and field-level road inventory collected both from the primary and secondary sources.
The Arckitechno, the technical consultant engaged in the survey work, on Friday made a detail presentation of the data base at a meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the Secretariat. Works Secretary NK Pradhan outlined the issues for discussion.
Reviewing the data outcomes of the study, Chief Secretary directed the Works Department to develop a comprehensive data base of the road network and institutionalise integrated mechanism for its regular updating.
Mohapatra also directed to design a strategic corridor development plan taking in to consideration the traffic requirement of upcoming industrial estates, production clusters and ports. Similarly, he asked the Rural Development Department to prepare a village connectivity plan on the basis of the data base.
The study revealed that 51,865 census villages, which account for 94 of all villages of the State, have been connected with roads. Mohapatra wanted that works be expedited to achieve 100 per cent connectivity within definite time frame.
Odisha has now around 3,594 km of National Highways (NH), 5,125 km of State Highways (SH), 2,805 km of Major District Roads ( MDR), 8,590 km of Other District Roads ( ODR), 18,591 km of Urban Roads, 28,159 km of Rural Roads, 25,703 km of Panchayat Samiti Roads, 1,45,368 km of Gram Panchayat roads, 7,518 km of Forest Roads, 6,277 km of Irrigation Roads and 88 km of GRIDCO roads.
Chief Secretary Mohapatra advised concerned officials to reclassify the road categories into three broad categories, A, B and C, for better development and maintenance.
The roads from State headquarters to district headquarters, port roads, inter-State roads, roads connecting to tourist places and roads connecting towns with more than 5,000 populations have been suggested to be classified as ‘A’ category.
Similarly, the roads from district to block headquarters, domestic tourist places and agricultural market centers have been suggested to be classified under ‘B’ category. The roads from block headquarters to GP headquarters, mines, power plants have been suggested to be classified as ‘C’ category.