Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to personally intervene in upgrading key road infrastructure in Angul district to strengthen coal transportation and support industrial growth. In a letter to the Chief Minister, Pradhan proposed the widening of the Chhendipada–Angul State Highway (SH-63) into a four-lane road, along with the construction of bypasses in densely populated areas.
He also recommended the expansion of the Chhendipada– Jarapada district main road to improve connectivity. Highlighting the strategic importance of Angul, Pradhan noted that the centrally located district has a population of around 1.5 million and contributes nearly 5 per cent to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Rich in coal reserves, Angul’s annual coal production is projected to rise significantly from the current 116 million tonnes to between 250 and 300 million tonnes by 2033. The district, he said, serves as a major hub for heavy industries, including steel, aluminium, and thermal power, along with advanced manufacturing and MSMEs.
Key industrial and energy establishments in the region include the NALCO smelter plant, NTPC Kaniha, Talcher Super Thermal Power Station, and extensive coal mines operated by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Pradhan said, adding that together, these form the backbone of Odisha’s energy security. The Union Minister emphasised that the Chhendipada tehsil alone accounts for nearly one-sixth of India’s coal reserves, underlining its national importance in the energy sector. However, he pointed out that the existing road infrastructure, particularly SH-63 and the Chhendipada–Jarapada road, is no longer adequate to handle the increasing volume of coal transportation.
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