Bhubaneswar, March 25: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday sought the intervention of Union Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari for early completion of Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur Section of NH-55.
In a letter to the Union Minister, Patnaik wrote, “It is a matter of great concern that even after more than 5 years, the upgradation work by the NHAI is yet to be completed.”
“I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that Rehabilitation and Up-gradation of Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur Section of NH-55 from km.0.400 to km.265.000 to 4=lane carriageway being carried out by the NHAI since 2017,” said Patnaik.
“This road serves as a lifeline to people of western Odisha. Haphazard construction activities and miserable plight of roads cause frequent mishaps leading to loss of human lives. During the last two years, 399 accidents have occurred causing 196 fatalities,” said Patnaik.
“There is public agitation for inordinate delay in completion of the work,” CM stated.
Highlighting that concern of Odisha has been communicated to the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, the Chief Minister said progress of the instant project is being reviewed at regular intervals by the National Highway Authority of India but no satisfactory outcome is visible.
“I seek your personal intervention for early completion of the project which will go a long way in redressing the pending demand of the people of the State,” said Patnaik.
