BHUBANESWAR: As the progress of majority of the externally-aided road projects in Odisha is tardy, the State Government has asked the Works Department to ensure that the projects are completed within the revised timeline.
As per the agreement with International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), work on Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandpur road project having a length of 88 km was scheduled to commence from November, 2013 and the date of completion was January 1, 2016.
According to the monthly progress report of the implementing agency Odisha State Road project (OSRP), only 15.4 per cent of the project cost has been utilised by end of October. The estimated cost of the project was `248.12 crore.
Of 43 minor bridges earmarked for construction in this section of the road, only seven bridges were completed by September and another 10 are under different stages of construction.
The Bhadrak-Chandbali (SH-9) section forms a part of Jagatpur-Kendrapada-Chandbali-Bhadrak (152 Km) project corridor. Major stretch of the road is located in Bhadrak district and passes through major human settlements like Pirahat, Tihidi, Bhadrak, Randia, Barpada, Bonth, Chennapati and Anandpur.
Even after two years, the Cuttack-Chandaballi State Highway has failed to make much headway. The project that envisages widening of 106 km State Highway at an estimated cost of `170.42 crore commenced on December 4, 2013.
Only 5.5 per cent of work has so far been done. Given the lack of work progress, the project will fail to meet March, 2016 deadline for completion.
This IBRD-funded highway project work was divided into two phases. Work in 49-km Jagatpur-Duhuria stretch of the highway has come to a halt after the firm which bagged the contract withdrew from the project, official sources said.
The State terminated the contract for the 49-km package from Jagatpur to Dhuria on April 25. After dividing the package into two, fresh tenders were invited and the State level empower committee headed by Chief Secretary had given approval last month in anticipation of Cabinet approval.
The 1202 km stretch of Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor passing through the State, which got delayed due to low budgetary support from the Centre, has gained momentum. While 879 km of road length has been developed, work is in progress for the rest 323 km.
Completion of 323 km was delayed due to non-performance of contractors, resulting in termination of original contract agreements and re-awarding of the balance work to new contractors. The revised time scheduled for completion is March, 2018.