The Central Government on Wednesday approved a Rs 761-crore road project for the State under its flagship National Highways Development Project.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval for four-laning with paved shoulders of the Jharpokharia-Baripada-Baleswar section of NH-5, an official statement said.
The cost of the 80.6-km project is estimated at Rs 760.73 crore, including land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and preconstruction activities. According to the CCEA, the project would be developed under build, operate and transfer (BOT-Annuity) in the design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) pattern.
“The project will expedite improvement of infrastructure in Odisha and also reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Jharpokharia, Baripada and Baleswar,” the CCEA said.
This road stretch is intercepted by two major National Highways, NH-6 (Kolkata-Mumbai route) at the starting point and NH-60 towards Kolkata at the end point.
It would also help uplift the socioeconomic condition of this region, the statement said, adding that it would also generate employment for local labourers when the project takes shape.