Survey for Silk City ring road begins

The proposed 45-km peripheral ring road around the Silk City may be a reality soon. Survey for the long-awaited project started on Monday. The survey to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) was stalled due to enforcement of model code of conduct for urban polls. A Bhubaneswar-based consultant would prepare the DPR after completing the survey while public works department (PWD) would execute the project, said executive engineer, PWD (Berhampur), and nodal officer for the project P K Das. The project was conceived about a decade ago by the Berhampur Development Authority to ease traffic in the city. The project aims at connecting peripheral areas with the city too. While 13-km Raghunathpur-Ratanpur bypass road would be constructed by the National Highways Authorities of India, 15-km stretch connecting Dakhinapur with Lathi and Haladiapadar and 17-km stretch connecting Mandiapalli-Karapalli and Phulta would be taken up by the works department.

Land acquisition is likely to made in some areas as the width of the ring road is proposed to be 300 metre, including green and commercial zones on side of the road, Das said. The cost of the project would be known only after preparation of the DPR. The proposed road assumes significance as the city is witnessing heavy traffic congestion during peak hours. "The ring road will not only ease traffic in the city but also make plying of proposed city buses smooth," said Berhampur Development Authority chairman Kailash Rana. The ring road is also important as the urban body has decided to construct a bus terminal at Haladiapadar, on the outskirts of the town, he added. The city bus service in Berhampur and its adjoining towns will start soon as the government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore and formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for facilitating the project.

Source: Times of India