Baripada: Rajya Sabha MP Sarojini Hembram met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and gave him a proposal relating to conversion of state highways (SHs) into four-lane national highways (NHs) in the state.
During the discussion with Gadkari, Hembram said the state highways including Kalabadia-Bangiriposi, Jashipur-Champua, Ananadapur-Thakurmunda, Udala-Baripada, Nilagiri-Kaptipada-Baripada, and Bhadrak-Anandapur-Karanjia-Singada have the potential of being turned into NHs.
She urged Gadkari to make a DPR (detailed project report) to convert the SHs into NHs.
To expedite the work, Hembram had called a meeting at Subarnarekha Irrigation Bungalow Sunday with NHAI Project Director Nageswar Rao, Iron Triangle Limited Project Director Mohan Kumar Mishra, L&T Project Manager Manab Panda, and PWD’s retired executive engineer Pitabash Sethi.
At the meeting, she discussed with the officials the procedure of making the DPR for conversion of state highways into four-lane national highways and extension of under-constructing NH into four-laned one in Mayurbhanj. She also discussed about the reconstruction of NH-49 at Dwarasunighati.
The officials assured Hembram that NH expansion is going at full speed and will be completed on schedule.
She suggested to the officials to beautify both sides of flyovers in such a way as to reflect the tradition and history of Odisha and landscape both sides of NH with flowering plants. She assured the officials of help from the state government.
PNN
