Survey work for coastal highway begins

Balasore: The survey work for proposed coastal highway connecting Gopalpur in Odisha with Digha in West Bengal has begun and the Centre has hired a private organisation for this purpose, sources said.

The coastal highway will pass through Chandaneswara, Chandipur of Balasore district, Basudevpur of Bhadrak, Satabhaya of Kendrapara, Paradip, Nuagaon of Jagatsinghpur, Astaranga, Konark, Satapada of Puri and Chattrapur, Gopalpur of Ganjam.

Four days ago, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had said the Centre will construct the coastal highway as a national highway.

During a function at Pipili, the Union minister had said this will help the authorities to engage in efficient rescue and relief operation during cyclones.

It is estimated that Rs 5,000 crore would be spent on the 500-km coastal highway.