Widening work of newly-declared NH-320 in Odisha's Sundargarh hit by delays

The widening of National Highway-320 in Sundargarh district faces fresh delays due to stalled utility shifts and incomplete tree felling between Jaraikela and Bondamunda.

Reports from The New Indian Express stated that the 25.45 km stretch, declared a national highway in 2022, has seen only 80% of the required land handed over to authorities, with work stuck on key patches amid bureaucratic tangles and local resistance.

Utility Shifting Brings Grinding Halts

Delays stem from unresolved issues in shifting electrical utilities and felling trees. Notably, the National Highway Division (NHD) has deposited Rs 11 crore with Tata Power for relocating poles and wires, and Rs 3 crore with the Forest Department to cut 1,723 trees.

However, 167 trees remain standing as electricity poles under them are yet to be shifted. Over 100 felled tree trunks also block progress, with the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) blaming Tata Power’s contractor for delays.

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Local Resistance Echoes Past Protests

The hurdles mirror past unrest in Odisha, highlighting incidents from 2024 when locals protested tree felling for NH-53 widening in Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur districts. In Sundargarh, similar tensions loom as delays frustrate communities.

While NH-320’s revised alignment avoids major eco-sensitive zones, unfinished clearance work has drawn criticism.

Project Snags and Adjustments

Work on this project began in October 2023 on a 22.077 km stretch, but 3.373 km near Bisra town was scrapped due to land disputes.

A proposed road over-bridge at Mahipani remains stalled. Further, the Rourkela Steel Plant’s (RSP) refusal to part with its ring road has blocked a 12 km stretch from Bondamunda to NH-143, forcing the NHD to consider alternate routes to bypass RSP land.

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With Rs 14 crore already spent and deadlines slipping, the delays highlight recurring challenges in Odisha’s infrastructure push. As Sundargarh waits, unresolved land disputes and community pushback threaten to derail the NH-320 project, a critical link for regional connectivity.