ROURKELA: The long-pending truck terminal project, later reworked as logistics-cum-fulfilment centre (LFC) near Rourkela three years ago, continues to hang in balance with no visible progress in sight.
The project has been planned on a land parcel of 11.92 acre along the Biju Expressway at Beldihi under Lathikata block in Sundargarh district with private partnership. It envisaged restricting entry of heavy vehicles to the city.
Reliable sources informed that the district administration had roped in the Odisha Carriers & Trade (OCT) as a potential private partner for development of the LFC.
On the application of OCT, the state level facilitation cell (SLFC) of IPICOL in its 184th meeting on June 26, 2020, accepted the proposal, following which it recommended allotment of the land parcel to OCT. The district administration later leased out the land to OCT in April 2022.
Initially, work for erection of perimeter wall was taken up, but after that no progress was seen. For unexplained reasons the project execution has got delayed, sources said. Promoter of OCT Anup Gupta was not available for comment.
A section of the local stakeholders apprehend the continuing delay in execution may eventually lead to dilute the project.
Rourkela Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Moloy Mondal said the project is crucial for de-congestion of Rourkela city with diversion of goods carrying heavy vehicles which would have truck parking and associated facilities.
The LCF is part of a larger Transport Nagar proposal to de-congest, which was conceptualised during 2005. After the administration failed to find a single land parcel of 25 acre around 2008, the Transport Nagar proposal was split into two, with proposals for a mega wholesale market yard at Balughat and truck terminal at Beldhi. Till now neither of the projects has seen fruition.
Sundargarh collector Subhankar Mohapatra said he would review the status of the project and take appropriate measures for speedy execution.