Bhubaneswar- Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched 19 national highway projects in Odisha, worth Rs 4,137 crore, at a ceremony in Baramunda ground in Odisha Capital.
Gadkari laid foundation stones for 17 projects and inaugurated two highway sections. This significant investment aims to boost Odisha’s infrastructure, echoing the Centre’s substantial spending on national highways in the state, nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. The projects will enhance connectivity and facilitate economic growth.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that road infrastructure in Odisha will be on par with those in America. “World-class infrastructure is a necessity to ensure development of a state. Odisha has good ports, rich mineral resources and forests and wildlife, which can help promote tourism. Good road infrastructure will provide the needed push to these sectors. In Odisha, we have taken up around Rs 2 lakh crore highway projects. Of these, projects worth Rs 60,000 crore have been completed. The rest include Rs 60,000 crore ongoing and Rs 75,000 crore upcoming projects. Detailed Project Reports (DPR) are being prepared for around Rs 40,000 crore projects. These apart, Rs 27,000 crore projects, covering Rs 650 km, have been awarded,” he said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CMs Pravati Parida and KV Singh Deo, MPs, MLAs and ministers were present at the programme.
He also laid the foundation stones for 13 national highway projects worth Rs 2,905 crore. As a part of these projects, new roads will be built and existing roads will be widened in Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Nayagarh districts.
A total of 105 km of roads will be constructed.
He also laid the foundation stones for four bridges worth Rs 427 crore. These bridges, having a combined length of 4.82 km, will be built on the Berhampur-Gopalpur and Rourkela-Biramitrapur highways under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund.
Gadkari also inaugurated two sections of NH-59 and NH-130CD. The combined length of the two sections is 44 km, and has been built at Rs 841 crore.
