Rs 3,200 expressway to boost connectivity in Naxal areas

Keeping to its election manifesto promise, the Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government has unveiled the 'Biju Expressway', a 656-km economic corridor connecting the steel city Rourkela with Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh).

The project involves two laning of 402 km and four laning of 254 km. The overall project cost is estimated at Rs 3,200 crore. Phase-I of the project is expected to be completed by May 2017 while second phase is scheduled for completion by May 2020.

The proposed corridor will pass through four economically backward and Naxal infested districts of Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada.

"Biju Expressway will be immensely helpful in boosting the economy of western Odisha and KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) districts. This massive connectivity network will help boost agriculture, trade & commerce and social sector development," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the launch of the expressway.

"We had made a promise in our election manifesto to connect northern and southern Odisha with an expressway passing through KBK regions and western Odisha. I am happy that today, we are taking a concrete step in this regard," he added. The corridor will connect border towns such as Chandli, Boriguma, Nabarangpur, Papadahandi, Ambapani, Dharmagarh, Sinapali, Bhella, Nuapada, Paikamal, Sohella, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Rourkela.

The economic corridor will cover eight districts- Korpaut (51 km), Nabarangpur (48 km), Kalahandi (100 km), Nuapada (120 km), Bargarh (141 km), Sambalpur (54 km), Jharsuguda (26 km) and Sundargarh (116 km).

Under 'Biju Expressway', the entire 656 km of road length will be improved. This includes four-laning from Rourkela to Sambalpur (160 km). Work on this four-laning, already initiated by the state government through public private partnership (PPP) would cost Rs 256 crore.