JEYPORE: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to construct three bypass roads in Jeypore, Koraput and Borrigumma to ease traffic on the busy National Highway (NH) 26. The NH stretch between Visakhapatnam and Raipur passes through Koraput district and is congested with heavy vehicles.
Locals have been demanding construction of bypass roads of the NH in these three important areas of the district. Recently, the NHAI authorities of Koraput and Sunabeda divisions prepared a blueprint for the bypass roads and have submitted it at the NHAI head office in New Delhi for consideration.
As per the proposal, the bypass roads would cross Kumba, Kanheiput villages near Koraput; Umuri, Mokaput, Dubuli villages near Jeypore and Jhilimili, Khadiguda and Borrigumma villages near Borrigumma.
The NHAI would acquire over 150 acres of land in these areas and a compensation of `51 crore would be provided to land losers. Work on the roads will begin soon after the clearance is received by NHAI, an official said.
As many as 5,000 heavy vehicles ply through NH-26 every day as a result of which, traffic jam occurs at Koraput, Jeypore and Borrigumma.
Recently, Koraput Collector VJ Kumar had reviewed the situation with high level officials of NHAI and directed them to speed up the bypass road project in the greater interest of the people.