The Odisha Government has demanded sanction of Rs 1,300 crore from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for development of 31 road projects in the State.
Works Secretary Dr Krishan Kumar has recently written a letter to the Union Ministry seeking approval of the road projects under three different Central schemes.Dr Kumar has urged for sanction of Rs 1,299 crore under the Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme, Economic Importance (El) scheme and Interstate Connectivity (ISC) scheme during the financial year 2021-22.He has sought sanction of 25 projects amounting to Rs 1,001 crore under CRIF, three projects worth Rs 123 crore under EI scheme and three projects of Rs 175 crore under the ISC scheme. Excluding four State Highways, all other projects are Major District Roads (MDRs). The State has planned to construct road projects of length 521.35 km under the CIF, 50.44 km under the EI scheme and 63.35 km under the ISC scheme. The CIF, earlier known as Central Road Fund, was established in 2000 under Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways.