Former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang on Monday urged Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to expedite ongoing National Highway projects in undivided Korapat districts and KBK areas soon.
Gamang sent two letters to Gadkari in which he thanked the Union Minister for declaring National Highway from Gopalpur (Brahmapur) to Digha (West Bengal) as Coastal Highway and for approving four NH projects in the south districts that would connect Odisha with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Besides, he requested Gadkari to connect Puri with Palur in south Odisha through Brahmagiri by constructing a National Highway standard road soon. He too urged the Minister to provide new vessels for Satapada-Jahnikuda waterway for travelling of people from both the sides till completion of the bridge there.
He apprised that he had made such proposals in 1999 when he was chief Minister of the State.
Similarly, Gamang thanked the Minister for declaring for roads as National Highways in South Odisha. The proposed NHs are Sunki to Chanili via Jeypore, Kerada to Raipur via Rayagada, Brahmapur to Koraput via Mohana and Nizamabad (AP) to Motu in Malkangri district.
He said though construction works of these roads are underway, yet the progress is slow due to problems kike land acquisition, hills, ghat areas and lack of fund for some projects.
All these newly-approved NHs and ongoing NHs projects passing through undivided Koraput District and KBK areas may be considered as important projects as these areas are backward in road communication, railway network, air travel, and most importantly come under the Fifth Scheduled area, he said.
The newly entrant BJP leader too urged Gadkari to release funds immediately for the aforesaid projects so that they would be executed without delay.