Odisha government proposes Gopalpur-Digha coastal highway

NEW DELHI: The Odisha Government today proposed a coastal highway connecting Gopalpur in Ganjam district to Digha in West Bengal to ensure efficient rescue and relief operation during cyclones.

The proposal was discussed between State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari here.

"We discussed construction of a coastal highway in Odisha from Gopalpur to Digha for ensuring efficient rescue and relief operations during cyclones and to provide alternative economic opportunities to the population in those areas," Patnaik told reporters after the meeting.

"The Union Minister said he would be able to help us in every way he can," he said.

He also demanded the Centre to declare the highways connecting Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur as national highways and upgradation of road network in tribal dominated districts and declaring them as NHs too.

The other demands put forth by the CM included improving the six existing NHs in the state under the engineering procurement and construction mode and augmenting allocation under 'ordinary repair' fund to Rs 25 crore for the current year to keep NHs in traffic-worthy conditions.

Sanction of three new bypasses near Bhawanipatna, Kotpar and Manamunda to ease traffic congestion and allocation of Rs 142.25 crore for early completion of the 900-metre Gurupriya bridge near Balimela reservoir was also discussed.