Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday urged the Centre for early sanction of 24 road projects in the two Maoist-prone districts.
In a letter to Union Home minister Rajnath Singh, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said 14 projects had been taken up in Odisha under Road Requirement Plan under Phase-1 (RRP-1) of which six have been completed and five are nearing completion.
Of the remaining three projects, the work on the bridge at Janbai, which will connect 151 cut-off villages at Balimela reservoir, is in full swing and will be completed within a year. Besides, the work on Chitrakonda-Janbai-Papermetta road is also underway and will be completed soon, Patnaik said in his letter.
He also said the proposal for termination of the contract for the 45-km Govindpalli-Salimi-Mahupadar Road including bridge on Chakabuka Nullah has been submitted to the Union Road Transport and Highways ministry on whose approval, fresh tender would be invited.
Drawing the attention of the Union minister, Patnaik said as the work under RRP-I is nearing completion, it is time to undertake the next phase of road development under RRP-II under which the state government has submitted proposals for development of 24 road projects in the two Maoist-prone districts of Malkangiri and Koraput which are badly required for having proper access to the left wing extremist (LWE) affected areas.
“The state government, after several rounds of discussions, the state government has sent its final proposal to the Home ministry since August 19 this year”, the chief minister said and sought personal intervention of the Union Home minister for early sanction of 24 road projects in the two Maoist-prone districts under RRP-II.