A high-level team from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) led by its Chairman Raghav Chandra interacted with State administration led by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Saturday.
The issues relating to improvement of around 1,912 km of NH running through the State was discussed and resolved, said an official release.
The NHAI Chairman said, “Odisha is a very fast progressing State from the view points of industrialisation and tourism. The State is also very important from the view point of its location.”
The progress of the works like 6-laning of the Bhubaneswar-Chandikhol section of NH-5 ( 67 km), 4-laning of the Panikoili-Rimuli section of NH-215 (166 km), 4-laaning of the Talcher-Duburi-Chandikhol section of NH-23 (132 km), 4-laning of the Rimuli-Roxy-Rajamunda section of NH-215 ( 96 km) and 4-laning of the Bhubaneswar-Puri section of NH-203 (67 km), were reviewed.
The matters relating to forest diversion, environmental clearance, availability of road construction materials, disbursement of compensation awards to people, tree felling in forest land, GPS survey, etc., were also discussed and resolved. Timelines were set for each work.
The status of upcoming NH projects also figured at the meeting. These project include 4-laning of the Singara-Binjabahal section of NH-6 (104 km), 4-laning of the Binjabahal-Telibani section of NH-6 (77 km), 4-laning of the Cuttack-Angul section of NH-42 (112 km), 4-laning of the Angul-Sambalpur section of NH-55 (153 km) and 4-laning of the Biramitrapur-Rajamunda section of NH-23 (76 km).
Go-ahead for construction of flyover at Khandagiri, approach road to Info Valley-II. Go-ahead was given for construction of a flyover at Khandagiri and an approach road to Info Valley-II, both projects being in State capital city.
It was also decided that the NHAI would engage retired OAS and OFS officers for expediting the land acquisition and forest diversion proposals.
Regarding the issue of shifting of the tollgates and collection of toll fees, both the NHAI and State Government agreed that the State would give a detailed proposal on the matter to the NHAI for consideration of the union Ministry. Decisions would be taken keeping in view the convenience of the people.