MoRTH inks MoU for 79 road projects

Three port road projects of the state have been identified under Sagarmala programme including the six laning of 76.64 km Paradip-Chandikhole section of NH-5A, four laning of Jamujhadi-Dhamra road connecting Dhamra Port and connectivity to Gopalpur Port from Chhatrapur, are among 79 port connectivity projects identified by the Centre during the Integrated Transport and Logistic summit held recently. In this connection, the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and National Highways Authority of India have signed an MoU for development of 79 port road connectivity projects, including the three projects in Odisha under Sagarmala program, official sources said. The main objective of these projects is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in the state. Though an investment proposal of Rs.1,014.36 crore for six laning of Chandikhole-Paradip section of NH 5A under National Highway Development Project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure in 2012, the project could not be taken up due to land acquisition problem. The project passes through three districts of Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur, and will be developed as partially access controlled facility with provision of service roads, interaction, underpass, and flyovers.