The approval of Rs 190 crore for the Balangir bypass road has brought cheers among people of the district.
The project was delayed due to faulty estimate. On July 7, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had called a review meeting of officials to review the progress of Khurdha- Balangir rail line. A delegation of people led by Patnagarh MLA KVSingh Deo, besides members of Action Committee Balangir, had met Pradhan at Bhubaneswar and appraised him about the bypass road and urged him to expedite the project.
President of Bolangir Action Committee Gopalji Panigrahi said Pradhan had assured them that train would be run from Balangir side by October and money for the bypass road would also be sanctioned.
Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari, in a letter to Pradhan, informed that Rs 190 crore has been sanctioned for the Balangir bypass road, Panigrahi informed further.
“We would express our gratitude to Minister Gadkari, Minister Pradhan, MLA Singh Deo, Sangeeta Singh Deo for their efforts,” he told.
Although Rs 39 lakh was pending with the district administration, land acquisition for the bypass road was not progressing.
The Action Committee had launched an agitation following which a proposal of Rs 240 crore was sent to the Center. However, as the price was found too inflated, the proposal was returned to State. Again a revised estimate of Rs 221 crore was sent.
There were allegations of quoting of inflated land price in the project. All this was done in collusion with corrupt teshil officials and land mafias. Moreover, members of the Action Committee had lodged a complaint demanding a vigilance inquiry into it.