Bhubaneswar: The Centre has granted an additional Rs 87.77 Crore for widening of the National Highways (NH-157) for the construction of paved shoulders besides the road connecting Aska to Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district.
In a letter to the State Public Works Department , the Ministry of Road and Highways has ‘conveyed the administrative, technical and financial sanction of the President of India to the estimate for the work’ for widening two lanes with paved shoulders and strengthening the NH 157 between Bhanjanagar and Aska in Ganjam district.
The road which will be stretched from 119 km to 159 km is being constructed on EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode.
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An amount of Rs 94.02 crore had been estimated for the work by the State government which was later modified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and fixed at Rs 87.77 crore.
The sanction of the amount is subject to certain condition including completion of the works within the stipulated time period and other guidelines issued by the Ministry.
The widening of the highways will strengthen further Odisha’s trade, communication and public transport and boost the development process of the State, said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, extending deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the move.
The State BJP also lauded the step taken by Prime Minister Modi for the development of Odisha.