Centre approves ₹979-cr roads & bridges in Odisha

The Centre has approved the construction of a bypass for Berhampur town connecting Ratnapur with Narendrapur on NH-59 along with two other projects involving a combined investment of ₹979 crore. The projects included the construction of a 13-km long bypass at an investment of around ₹197 crore and a four-lane railway overbridge (ROB) costing ₹490 crore aimed at decongesting Berhampur town by diverting traffic. The authority has initiated the process of acquiring around 88 hectares of land, both government and privately-owned ones for the project. The land acquisition for the bypass project to be taken up on the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) model is almost complete.

The Centre also approved a railway overbridge at Matiapada on the Puri-Konark road with an investment of around ₹138 crore. The project, which will enable a hassle-free movement of tourists from Puri town to Konark, will also be taken up on the EPC model. Among others, bridge projects worth ₹154 crore have also been sanctioned by the Centre in the tribal-dominated and Maoist-affected Malkangiri district. The amount will be invested for the reconstruction of five submersible bridges replacing them with high-level bridges on NH- 326 between Malkangiri town and Motu in the district.