All Kutcha, WBM Roads in Urban Areas to Be Upgraded Into Pavered Roads in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As part of transformative urban governance under 5T initiatives, the Odisha Government has decided to upgrade all the Kutcha and WBM (Water Bound Macadam) roads into pavered roads to enhance the liveability of the cities.

This will be completed by October 2023, said an official press release.

G Mathi Vathanan, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development has issued instructions to all the ULBs in this connection. As mandated by the Government, all the Kutcha and WBM Lanes / by lanes/streets/roads in all ULBs are to be upgraded to pavered roads on a saturation basis.

It is decided to take up the Kutcha roads in the beginning and once substantial progress is achieved in respect of Kutcha roads, the WBM roads can be upgraded subsequently.

Principal Secretary Mathi Vathanan has directed that the surveyed & validated list of Kutcha & WBM roads along with Geo-coordinates to be submitted by the ULBs are to be taken up for upgradation. The scope of work for the upgradation of the roads must cover a one-year defect liability period and further two years of repair & maintenance of the constructed roads to ensure the qualitative work.

For handholding support to the ULBs, one standardized draft tender document is also being sent shortly. The funds for the upgradation of roads will be sourced from UNNATI and other funds through convergence.

All have been instructed to take immediate steps for the preparation of the estimate and submit the requirement of funds to the department by the 5th of May positively, the press release stated.