Cuttack-Angul Highway-55 expansion to be completed by April: Nitin Gadkari

The expansion of the National Highway 55 (NH-55) into a four-lane road between Cuttack and Angul, a distance of 112 kilometres, is anticipated to be finished by April 2025, announced Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, in response to a question posed by Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pani in the Lok Sabha.

Gadkari also confirmed the 150-kilometre stretch between Angul and Sambalpur has concluded and is now operational. The NH-55 section linking Cuttack and Sambalpur is executed in three segments: Cuttack to Dhenkanal (Package 1), Dhenkanal to Angul (Package 2), and Angul to Sambalpur (Package 3).

Project Delays and Challenges

Acknowledging delays in the completion of the Cuttack-Sambalpur four-laning project, the minister attributed these postponements to hurdles in land acquisition, forest clearance processes, impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, and financial issues faced by the contractors.

Efforts to Expedite Completion

Gadkari assured that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is closely monitoring all project aspects to facilitate swift progress.

“Regular stakeholder meetings, including discussions with state government officials, are conducted to ensure smooth coordination and completion of this critical infrastructure project,” he explained, emphasising the aim to mitigate any public inconvenience caused by the ongoing work.

Project Targets

Revised targets have been set for the conclusion of Packages 1 and 2, expected by March and April 2025, respectively, with robust oversight on financial and logistical challenges to meet these goals.