Odisha is likely to get a Special Economic Corridor, which will be constructed from Paradip to Bhadrasahi-Barbil keeping in view the commercial potential of the region. With the creation of this economic corridor, the transportation of minerals in the state will be accelerated.
Over the years, the state has seen significant improvement in the construction of both National Highways and State Highways. A total of 5,753Km long 38 NH passes through 30 districts of Odisha. Of these, 19 National Highways which are 2,920 km long are being run by the National Highways Authority of India, while the remaining 2,833 kms are being run by the Public Works and Works Department of the State Government.
Meanwhile, with the growth of industrialization and increase in the number of steel plants in the state, there is a need to create a Special Economic Corridor from Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district to Barbil in Kendujhar district. This should be expedited as required, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said in a virtual joint review meeting of NH projects at Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.
Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India, Giridhar Arman praised Odisha for NH improvement. He advised the regional level NHAI officers to be in regular touch with the Collectors and Divisional Forest Officers for speedy resolution of the issues arising in the process of implementation.
The meeting reviewed the progress of various National Highway projects. The Chief Secretary Mohapatra fixed the timeline for different phases of work for each project, taking into account the various modalities of the grassroots issues. The DFOs and Collectors were also directed to proactively resolve the issues within the stipulated time frame.
Giridha Armane, Secretary, Ministry of Roads, Ministry of Transport said, “The Odisha model for NH reforms is very good. All the officers from Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary to DFO and Executive Engineer are well aware of the alignment of roads, progress of each project and the ground level issues that need to be tackled.
Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said, there is a need for development of economic corridor from Paradip to Bhadrasahi-Barbil. NHAI should go ahead with land acquisition so that this road has ROW for all future uses, including provision of mixed utilities. The state government will provide all possible assistance for land acquisition.”
Odisha has been highly praised for reducing road accidents at the national level. The State Government has been especially appreciated by the National Road Transport Department for proper construction and maintenance of highways in 30 districts. Experts believe that the construction of both National Highways and State Highways has accelerated and this will help in easier transportation and industry as well as reduce accidents.
Industry expert Bhabani Shankar Pani said, “This is the prime requirement for the growth of the industry and easy transportation of goods. This is a good step towards creating an economic corridor in the state which will be helpful in economic development.”
“The construction of the economic corridor will help in hassle-free transportation in those routes from the mining area of Barbil to Paradip. Similarly improvement of NH and state highway will help in reducing accident in the state,” said road safety activist Subrata Nanda.
Issues relating to disbursement of compensation awards against land acquisition, forest diversion, compensatory afforestation, animal under pass (AUP), elephant under pass (EUP), and vehicle under pass (VUP), payment of user fee by state carriage meeting Wildlife clearance regarding some stretches of buses, some roads, handing over of physical possession of land to NHAI, etc. were discussed and resolved in the meeting.
(with inputs from Manoj Jena)
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