Union Minister promises to expedite Berhampur bypass project

Naveen Patnaik urges Union Minister to approve Berhampur-Koraput National Highway

Chief Minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik met the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Dr. C.P. Joshi, at New Delhi. He urged the Union Minister to approve five State Roads -Berhampur-Koraput; Madhapur-Rayagada; Phulnakhara-Konark;Kuakhia-Aradi-Bhadrak and Palasa-Khariar as National Highways. Union Minister was also requested to expedite sanction of estimates for land acquisition for enabling construction of 7 new Bypasses in Bolangir on NH-26; Titlagarh on NH-59; Berhampur on NH-59 (earlier NH 217); Nawarangpur on NH-26; Boriguma on NH-26; Jeypore on NH-26 and Koraput on NH-26 and to urgently allocate funds to the State for 2011-12 under the Central Road Fund.

Union Minister appreciated the concerns of Orissa and assured that his Ministry would extend necessary financial help for carrying out repair and restoration work on National Highways. He informed the Chief Minister that he will depute Chairman, NHAI to the State to assess the difficulties associated with National Highways and take appropriate action towards ensuring up-gradation of National Highways to 4 lane standards. On declaration of new  National Highways in Orissa, Union Minister informed that the proposed State Roads forming part of the National Grid would be upgraded to National Highways. 

Union Minister shared that his Ministry is committed to provide roads in Naxal affected districts and the proposal for 45 new roads forming part of the second phase will be approved during the current financial year. On construction of Bypasses, he assured that Berhampur Bypass on NH-59 (earlier NH 217) will be taken up immediately and the proposal of the State for other bypasses will be considered in due course. 

Source: Orissa Diary