BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to expedite land acquisition and forest clearance for speedy completion of national highway projects.
This was decided at a high level meeting presided over by chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik at the Secretariat here on Friday. Official sources said that whenever necessary more land acquisition officers (LAOs) will be posted to expedite the process.
The NHAI and the Forest Department were also advised to complete roadside plantation which is done against diverted forest land. The department was asked to ensure 100 percent survival of roadside plantation.
It was decided that additional water vents and bridges will be constructed on National Highway 60. The NHAI will use flyash available for construction of high embankment.
Official sources said that 11 projects have been entrusted to NHAI in the state for improvement. Of these, eight projects of 318 kilometers have been completed while three projects of 318 kilometers are still going on.
It was decided that improvement of seven highways of 481 kilometers will be taken up. They are, Rimuli-Rajamunda (NH-215), Sambalpur-Bargarh (NH-6), Bhubaneswar-Puri (NH-203), Panikoili-Rimuli (NH-215), Cuttack-Angul (NH-42), Angul-Sambalpur (NH-42) and Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur (NH-5). Sources said that eight new projects of 1492 kilometers are in the pipeline.