Worried over contractors unwilling to take up road and bridge works in the Maoist-hit areas, the State Government recently decided to make a new road development plan to expedite such works in those areas.
A committee headed by Home Secretary, Intelligence Director, IG Operations, IGs of CRPF and BSF and Secretaries of both the Works and Rural Development Departments will chalk out the plan in coordination.
Sources said the Chief Secretary took this decision after he toured the Maoist zones of Malkangiri district to know the ground zero situation.He emphasised that barges be constructed soon in Chitrakonda Reservoir to make connectivity to over 150 cut-off villages. It was decided that road projects worth Rs 150 crore would be started in the Maoist-hit areas soon. While the Works Department would get Rs 100 crore, RD Department would Rs 50 crore to take up road projects under the new plan.
The meeting decided that important road projects would be implemented by Works Department as contractors are leaving such works taken up by RD Department halfway. The meeting reviewed status of several crucial roads in Malkangiri, Bargarh, Raygada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Koraput, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Kalahandi and Balangir and fixed time line for their completion.
Besides road project, the meeting also discussed on plying of OSRTC buses in the lWE areas under Rural Transport Connectivity Scheme. OSRTC CMD Manoj Chhabra told the meeting that 25 buses will soon ply in various routes of Koraput and Nabarangpur districts.
Seventy-five more buses will be introduced in the Maoist areas after drivers are recruited for them, he informed.