Cuttack Cong stages economic blockade

The Congress on Monday staged a daylong ‘Economic Blockade’ at Jagatpur Square on the outskirts of the city protesting against the State Government’s continued apathy towards the 106-km Cuttack-Chandbali State Highway.Hundreds of trucks carrying goods were stranded on the National Highway and other connecting roads passing through the Jagatpur truck terminus located near the square. 

led by Cuttack District Congress Committee chief Prakash Behera and accompanied by Cuttack City (District) chief Md Moquim, hundreds of party members picketed at the square restricting the goods-carrying trucks.The State Highway is considered to be the lifeline of parts of Cuttack district and whole of Kendrapada district. 

But the dilapidated road has turned into a deathtrap as it witnesses frequent accidents every day.“The State Government has constantly neglected this road even as announcements to upgrade it come every time during the time of elections,” Behera said, claiming that the economic blockade has been a success. 

He announced that if considerable efforts are not taken soon to improve the condition of the road, the party would launch economic blockade on the National Highway.

Notably, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in December 2013 had laid a foundation-stone at Jagatpur for double-lining of the highway at a cost of Rs 153 crore. 

“Although one and a half years have passed in the meantime, the project is yet to see the light of the day,” Behera pointed out.