BHUBANESWAR:The State Government’s announcement to improve conditions of 2,158 km State Highways (SHs) at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore in four years by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan has not progressed in a satisfactory manner.
In the first phase, 381 km of road projects involving expenditure of around Rs 633 crore were launched. However, most of the projects are yet to be completed.
The Government had introduced a new scheme called State Highways Development Programme (SHDP). Under the plan, the Government aimed to double-lane all State Highways within 12th Five Year Plan with an estimated investment of Rs 3,000 crore. Official sources, however, said the scheme is way behind target.
A project management cell (PMC) to manage and monitor the projects under SHDP scheme was set up. The Works Department was also asked to engage a professional contract management agency to assist the PMC for timely completion of projects.
The first phase of the programme included widening and strengthening of 11.772 km road between Hindol and Mahidharpur on SH-64 in Dhenkanal, 11.93 km Umerkote-Raighar-Kundei-Likma on SH-40 in Nabarangpur, 8.2 km Seragarh-Nilagiri-Jharanaghati on SH-19 in Balasore and 7 km on Arigaon-Bishalpali road in Balangir.
The list also included Shergada-Badagada-Sorada stretch on SH-36 of 38.95 km in Ganjam district, Manamunda-Kantamala-Ghantapada-Sindhiguda (SH-41) of 24.19 km in Boudh, Banigochha-Madharpur-Khajuripada-Phulbani-Saranagada-Nuagaon-Baliguda (SH-1) of 52.52 km and Baliguda-Muniguda (SH-5) of 24 km in Kandhamal, Parvatipur-Laxmipur (SH-51) of 47.35 km in Koraput, Karanjia-Thakurmunda-Satkosia-Anandapur (SH-53) of 57.22 km in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
As per the decision, the Berhampur-Mandara stretch (31 km) and Shergada-Badagada-Sorada (38.95 km) in Ganjam district, Padadahandi-Umerkote-Yerla (18.60 km) and Umerkote-Raighar-Kundei-Likma (11.93 km) in Nabarangpur district and Bhawanipatana-Gunupur-Kashipur (18.90 km) in Kalahandi district will also be developed into two lanes.
