NHAI to develop Paradip-Daitary highway

The contract will be for six years to repair and maintain the highway

With Paradip-Daitary expressway in Odisha in pathetic shape, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to develop the highway on an 'Operate-Maintain Transfer' (OMT) mode, NHAI officials said.

The tender-bidding process is on to hand over the maintenance work of the highway to a private firm. The contract would be for six years to repair and maintain the highway. As the highway is in bad shape in certain patches, a local construction company has been entrusted to undertake repair till OMT bid is finalised, the officials said.

The busy highway otherwise called as Paradip-Daitary expressway incidentally happens to be the principal road between the mineral-rich areas and Paradip port, a stretch of 77 km. Replete with potholes, the highway has come under roadside encroachment at strategic traffic junctions.

A 10-KM stretch of the road, (Bhutamundai to Atharbanki), is not in a motorable condition and one has to undergo a bitter experience at many places on the road as the road is replete with hundreds of potholes.

"We have urged upon the officials to set right the road in perfect condition so as to ensure speedy travel," said Paradip Private Truck Operators' Union President Sumant Biswal.