The 26-kilometre journey from Birro to Hasoud has become smooth in the district. A new double-lane road had been laid at a cost of Rs45 crore by the State Public Works Department (PWD). Chief Minister Raman Singh will inaugurate the new road on February 13 on the occasion of ‘Jaajwalyadev Mahotsav’ and dedicate it to the public.
Collector OP Choudhary stated that the new double-lane road links Hasoud via Birro to Bhatgaon in Balodabazaar district , a distance of 23 kilometre. It was laid at a cost of Rs45 crore. There are 55 big and small bridges and culverts on the road. About 7 kilometre Cement Concrete road was also laid in the villages. It will be convenient for citizens of Hasoud,Kaitha,Malda,Dhivra, Birro and Basantpur to travel to Chandrapur, Dabra, Sakthi,Maalkarouda and Bhatgaon in Balodabazaar.
Earlier the single- lane road was in a bad condition and travellers were finding it difficult to go to villages. Overall, on January 29 this year, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone of five major highway projects worth Rs1700 crores approved for Chhattisgarh in a programme held in Kawardha town of Kabirdham district.
Chief Minister Raman Singh had presided over the programme, On the Union Minister’s visit, the Centre has gifted road projects worth more than Rs20,000 crore to Chhattisgarh. The projects include National Highway 12A Kawardha-Bemetara-Simga section, National Highway 216 Raigarh-Sarangarh-Saraipalli section, National Highway 43 Dhamtari-Kanker section, National Highway 43 Bedma-Dahikonga section and National Highway 43 Dahikonga-Jagdalpur section.
This apart, a total of 580 kms of roads have been constructed during the past four years in insurgency infested regions of the State. This includes 18 roads which were constructed between 2011 and 2014. This was informed during a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand in the Mantralaya held recently. The Chief Secretary directed to complete construction of all 22 roads of length totalling 982 km running through insurgency infested regions within the prescribed time limit.
He asked officials to get ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Forest Department for construction of roads in forested areas.“Priority will be given to the construction of roads in insurgency infested region, Dhand said. Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD) should jointly review the development of road works and should quickly clear hurdles,” the Chief Secretary said, adding, supply of raw material used in road construction like stone chips, Murrum etc should be ensured at local level.Construction agencies were also directed to complete pending work on a priority basis.