49 NH projects worth ₹1,721 crore ready for inauguration; foundation stones for 47 new projects soon: Odisha Works Minister Harichandan

As many as 49 national highway projects worth ₹1,721 crore, recently completed across Odisha, will be inaugurated shortly, Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Monday.

The Minister also announced that foundation stones for 47 new highway projects, with a combined investment of ₹12,102 crore, will be laid in the near future.

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Harichandan made the announcement while chairing a review meeting on national highway projects, each valued at more than ₹50 crore. He said several major road infrastructure projects are currently under construction across the state, while many more are in the pipeline.

Emphasising the need for efficient project execution, the Minister directed departmental officials to adopt a systematic and well-planned approach to ensure timely completion of ongoing works and smooth implementation of upcoming projects.

Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, addressing departmental officers, Chief Engineers, and Superintending Engineers, stressed the need for greater efficiency in land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, project planning, and design. He also underscored the importance of inter-departmental coordination to expedite execution and resolve bottlenecks.

The review meeting assessed the progress of 30 ongoing projects, 14 projects awaiting work orders, and four projects currently at the tendering stage.

Among the key projects reviewed were the Bhanjanagar–Aska Road, Reamal Bypass Road, Berhampur Bypass, Khariar Road ROB, Puri–Matiapada ROB, Nayagarh Bypass, Kesinga ROB, a high-level bridge on the Malkangiri–Motu Road, Kandarpur–Balikuda Road, Kotpad Bypass Road, Kuakhia–Mangalpur Road, Titilagarh Bypass, high-level bridges over the Baitarani and Tel rivers, Nabarangpur Bypass, Jharsuguda Bypass Road, Rairangpur Bypass, and Daspalla Bypass, among others.

The meeting also reviewed projects awaiting work orders and those currently under the tendering process.

Senior officials present included Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief-cum-Special Secretary of the Works Department L. K. Padhi, Financial Adviser Ratikanta Mohapatra, National Highways Chief Engineer-I Narayan Patel, Chief Engineer-II Deepak Kumar Panigrahi, along with representatives from the Energy Department, OPTCL, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, various departments, Superintending Engineers from different zones, and representatives of contracting agencies.