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Work on new National Highway (NH) projects (in Odisha) worth Rs 10,000 crore would begin before December this year while work for the balance projects are expected to commence early next year, he told reporters here.
“I have directed the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) officials to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed project works in Odisha,” he said.
The minister today declared seven new NH projects for the state spanning a network of 1,260 km. These projects include Palasa-Parlakhemundi-Padampur (400 km), Bhubaneswar-Athagarh-Badkera (150 km), Narayanpur-Parjang-Khadagprasad (140 km), Cuttack-Chandbali-Dhamra-Bhadrak (190 km), Badkera-Hindol-Daspalla-Bhanjanagar (120 km), Nayagarh-Saranpur-Jankia-Chandpur (130 km) and Bolangir-Patnagarh-Harishankar-Nrusinghanath-Paikamal-Nuapada (130 km).
Gadkari said the NH network across the country is 97,000 km out which the coverage in Odisha is 4639 km. Out of this 1462 km is with the NHAI and 3177 km with the Public Works Department (PWD).
Two districts in the state- Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur yet to be covered under NH network would also be covered, he said.
Ongoing NH projects amounting to Rs 8764 crore and covering a length of 2104 km are in various stages of implementation. The ongoing NH projects are six laning of Chandikhole-Jagatpur-Bhubaneswar section (67 km), four laning of Rimuli-Roxy-Rajamunda section of NH-215 and four laning of Talcher-Dubari-Chandikhole section besides widening, improvement and upgradation of many NH sections.
NHAI would execute 15 projects in the state in 2015-16 with a total outlay of around Rs 2200 crore.
Gadkari said, the Centre has set a target of constructing 30 km of National Highways per day within two years and planned to spend Rs five lakh crore on road infrastructure development.
"We have already been able to raise the daily NH construction from two km to 14 km, registering a seven fold rise in the last one year. We are optimistic of crossing the target of 30 km NH construction in two years," he added.
He further said his ministry plans to spend Rs one lakh crore over five years on development of inland waterways.
Talking on the inland waterway in Odisha, he said, "The waterway in Odisha would cover a stretch of 332 km from Talcher to Pankapal. The barrage would be build at Jokadia for which a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared. Work is expected to start soon."
Gadkari said, his ministry has drawn up a plan to convert 101 rivers across the country into inland waterways and this includes five in Odisha- Brahmani, Baitarani, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha and Budhabalannga.
Asked about the support of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government here to Land Acquisition Bill, the minister said, "I am expecting the cooperation of the Odisha government for development of the state and the country."
He said state governments need to cooperate on land acquisition and forest & environment clearance to ensure timely completion of NH projects.
"Our ministry has decided that work orders would not be issued unless at least 80 per cent of the land acquisition is completed", he asserted.
