The Hindu              04.09.2013

60-km road project on the anvil

With an objective to facilitate a robust public transport system to Bhubaneswarites, the State government is contemplating laying a 60-km road by widening the existing road and making new stretches in the Capital City.

To execute the ambitious plan, the government has estimated fund requirement to the tune of Rs. 1300 crore. The proposal was taken up for discussion at the high-level steering committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Tuesday.

The road, approximately 60-km-long, will connect Lingipur junction on National Highway 316, Jatani Road, Tamando, Chandaka, Nandankanan and Pahala on National Highway 16.

According to sources, the BDA is preparing a detailed project report of four lane road with provision of BRTS corridor of eight metre along the centre of ring road encircling Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area and a part of Bhubaneswar Development area.

Alignment of the master plan road with width of 200 feet will be changed keeping in mind the road geometrics, village areas and forestland. At present, the by-pass national highway connecting Pitapalli and Baranga is serving as a ring road. Requirement of a ring road is necessary since Bhubaneswar is expanding towards southern direction.

People residing beyond Khandagiri area depend on busy national highway passing through the city to touch Puri-Cuttack road and other localities in northern sector.

Besides, arterial roads inside the city have become crowded during past couple of years. A wide road connecting Biju Patnaik airport and Nandankanan was developed a couple of years ago and it is being considered that the road ease pressure on traffic. However, the road itself became packed during peak hours.

Cause for congestion

High share of personal vehicles in Bhubaneswar is stated to be the reason for congestion on roads.

According to New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, traffic data for different intersections and road mid blocks in Bhubaneswar showed that almost all roads have been dominated by the personal vehicles from 45 to 90 per cent of the traffic volume. The proposed master plan road is also likely to have facility to assimilate requirements for Bus Rapid Transit System.

Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Development Authority has requested the Works Department to take up all proposed master plan roads.