Chhatrapur: The construction of the proposed Ring Road in Silk City of Ganjam district has been inordinately delayed even after 10 years of the commencement of work.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the project in 2013 to ease the traffic problem arising out of the burgeoning population in this city. Sources informed Sunday that failure to acquire private land has led to the delay in completion of the project.
The Ring Road will be constructed at a cost of Rs 475 crore. Once completed it will ease commuting in the city for residents of Berhampur, Chhatrapur, Gopalpur and Digapahandi Assembly segments. People coming from rural areas will be specially benefitted as they will not have to take long detours to reach their destinations and get caught in the traffic snarls after entering this town.
Moreover, people of the beach tourism site Gopalpur, Rangeilunda and Kukudakhandi blocks coming here for work can use the Ring Road. Sources said that it will not only facilitate smooth commuting for the residents but will also lead to financial growth in these areas.
The construction of the Ring Road will also help in making the Haldiapadar bus terminal here operational. The Ring Road will have bypasses from Raghunathpur to Ratanpur and then to Haldiapadar road and from Raghunathpur to Karapalli.
The proposal for construction of the road was moved during the stint of Krishan Kumar, the then District Collector of Ganjam. It had then been decided to construct the 46-km long Ring Road. Despite the foundation stone being laid, construction from the beginning stuttered due to problems in land acquisition and non-cooperation of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Eight years passed and the first phase of work for the Ring Road started only during the stint of former Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange in November, 2021.
Meanwhile, efforts have been launched for land acquisition for the project. Authorities have decided to acquire land from the private owners in Gobindpur and Manoharpur mouzas for construction a stretch from Ratanpur to Haldiapadar. The Works department in a letter to the Ganjam Collector has given its permission for acquisition of private land.
According to the letter, 10.552 acres of private land will be acquired in Manoharpur mouza and 4.449 acres in Gobindpur mouza. Funds worth Rs 13.92 crore will be spent on acquisition of land. The land acquisition process will be undertaken in the presence of the executive engineer of Ganjam Roads and Buildings Division-1 (R&B). Moreover, the authorities have been directed to make photography of the land acquisition.
When contacted, District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida confirmed the development stating that the land acquisition process has reached its final stage.
PNN