Four laning of NH-59 in Berhampur city delayed

   Condition of roads in the city pathetic

National Highway 59 passing through Berhampur has become an agony to ride on. Big holes have emerged at several roads, which are part of the NH. Though upgrading of the highway started in September 2013, it is not yet completed as per the schedule.

The highway is one of the important highways connecting Berhampur to several other cities. It passes through many roads of Berhampur such as Aska Road, Courtpeta Road, Engineering School Road, Haridakhandi and Khodasingh road. However, several holes on these roads irritate commuters.

Samantha Panda, a local resident said, “I ride a bike and pass through the Aska Road while going to the office every day. But there are several big holes on the road, which can cause back injuries while passing through it on a two wheeler.”

The Works Department of Government of Odisha looks into the construction and maintenance of the National Highways.

The Executive Engineer of the National Highways, R.K. Maharana, said, “We are almost done with the renovation work at several parts of the NH 59. Water leakage is the main issue on the Courtpeta Road, Haridakhandi Road and Aska Road. We have repaired them at some places. But unless the pipelines get repaired, the roads can't be reconstructed.”

 The four laning of the NH 59 has also started at some parts, but the project is running behind the original schedule.

 Maharana says, “The widening of the highway couldn’t be done at 10 points due to which four laning project has been delayed. Due to drain alignment, road side electric polls and PHD valves on the road, the widening of roads is delayed.”

 When iamin spoke to PHD officials, he said, “the pipelines were laid in the middle of the roads since the beginning. It is proposed to the state government to shift the pipelines to the edges of the roads. But it will take time”.
-Friday, 17 April 2015 - 6:57pm IST | Ronalisa Parida, DNA