The State Government in Odisha in a recent move has targeted to build road infra projects worth Rs 936-cr largely on the National Highways crisscrossing the state. The total cost of construction, which has been calculated to about Rs 1093-cr was sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for sanction, which in turn cleared only Rs 157-cr for five projects and now the state government is weighing various options to generate funds. As a matter of fact, there is a wide gap between requirement and allocation of funds for maintenance of NHs in the State as maintenance of the NHs is not being taken up at desired level due to want of adequate funds. Currently, there are 13 projects under implementation by NH wing of the State Public Works Department (PWD) requiring acquisition of land and work on which has been initiated on war footing, said official sources.
