Double lane of SH to be completed by 2017

State Government has decided to complete double-laning of all the State Highways (SHs) by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.

 The decision was taken at a high level meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the Secretariat on Monday.

Official sources said that double-laning of the 2158.26-km road will be completed by 2016-17  with an estimated expenditure of ` 3000 crore. A target has been fixed to complete the upgradation of 374.49 kms during the year at a cost of `612.87 crore.

Double-laning of 1697 kms of State Highways including 237.58 kms in the Naxal affected areas has already been completed.

 The Chief Minister on Monday asked the Public Work Department to complete the tender process and land acquisition by December. It was decided that land will be purchased directly if necessary.

Similarly, 355.57 kms of the 965.75-km Ranchi-Vijayawada corridor passing through Odisha has been completed. The project will be completed by 2015 with an expenditure of `1805.9 crore.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of road construction in Naxal affected areas of Sambalpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Malkangiri districts.

 Work on 13 roads and one bridge with a budget of `945.55 crore has been started.