Bypass to ease National Highway 26 logjam

KORAPUT, ODISHA: National Highway (NH) 26, passing through Koraput town in Odisha, will soon get a six-km bypass to ease traffic inside the town.

Official sources said the bypass will be constructed near Koraput and connect the NH towards Jeypore near the Coffee Board office on the outskirts of the town.

Construction of the bypass is a longstanding demand of the residents of Koraput.

"With rise in population and flow of both heavy and light vehicles, the NH inside the town is witnessing traffic jams. Hence, the bypass was proposed and preliminary work has started," said Koraput District Collector Jaya Kumar V.

The seven-km bypass will be 60-metre wide and laid on 28 acres.

"The survey work for the road has been completed and the land acquisition process is on. According to an estimate, Rs 48 crore will be spent," the collector said.

According to an estimate, every day on an average, 4,000 vehicles ply on the NH in Koraput. "The bypass is expected to provide relief to residents from traffic snarls and air pollution," said Bhabani Mishra, president, Koraput Citizen Committee.