Centre approves Rs 364 cr for National Highways in state

The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 364.10 crore in 2010-11 for the development and upgradation of National Highways (NH) and other road infrastructure projects in Orissa, said state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

While Rs 10.25 crore would be spent on two laning and four laning of the NHs in the state, an expenditure of Rs 32.10 crore would be incurred in building bypasses of the length of five km at Deogarh, Borigumma, Jeypore and Koraput.

It may be noted that four laning work of a stretch of 830.966 km of highways is pending in the state. The feasibility study along with the preliminary project report and design has been completed for the four laning of the 165 km Rourkela-Sambalpur state highway.Works have been awarded for laning of the 88-km Sambalpur-Lahurachati (NH-6) stretch, 130.05 km Talcher-Chandikhole (NH-200) stretch, 59-km Bhubaneswar-Puri (NH-203) stretch and the 269-km Panikoili-Rajamunda (NH-215) stretch. These projects are being taken up under Phase-III of the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP).

On the other hand, survey work is underway for the 80.06 km Balasore-Jharpokharia (NH-5) stretch, 330.38-km Jamsola-Samblapur (NH-6) stretch, 125.8 km Biramitrapur-Barkote (NH-23) stretch and the 264.72-km Manguli-Sambalpur stretch (NH-42). These projects will be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Phase-IV of NHDP.

Meanwhile, Rs 102.10 crore would be spent in the current financial year on strengthening of existing pavements on a stretch of 151.68 km network of NHs.