Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sought the intervention of the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for early completion of the various works on the Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur Section of NH-55. In his letter, Naveen wrote that “the Rehabilitation and Up-gradation of Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur Section of NH-55 from Km.0.400 to Km.265.000 to 4-lane carriageway is being carried out by NHAI since 2017. It is a matter of great concern that even after more than 5 years, up-gradation work is yet to be completed.”
“The above section of NH-55 serves as lifeline to millions of people of the Western Odisha. Haphazard construction activities and miserable plight of the road causes frequent accidents leading to loss of human lives. During last two years, as many as 399 accidents have taken place causing 196 fatalities. There is public agitation and discontentment among the people for inordinate delay in completion of the road work. It is worth mentioning that the concern of State Government on this count has also been communicated to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways earlier. Progress of the instant project is being reviewed with the Regional Authorities of NHALI at regular intervals but no satisfactory outcome is visible”, he wrote in the letter.
He sought the intervention of Gadkari for early completion of the project which will go a long way in redressing the pending demands of the people.