Bhubaneswar: A day after Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan blamed the state government for delay in execution of national highway (NH) projects in state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for early approval of road projects worth Rs 1261.98 crore.
In a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, the Chief Minister said the state government has submitted project proposals of Rs 1261.98 crore to the Ministry in December last year for approval under Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme.
Out of 30 project proposals, 29 are related to widening and strengthening of roads and another for construction of a bridge over river Subernarekha on Haladipada (NH-16).
“Except for one road project in Puri district which is required for the convenience of tourists, all other road projects pass through tribal and backward pockets covering 13 districts of the state,” Naveen said.
He also mentioned that no project has been sanctioned during last year as well as the current year under Central Road Fund scheme for the state
Keeping in view the importance of the project proposals for development of tribal and backward regions of the state, the CM requested Gadkari for consideration and early sanction of these projects.
Tuesday, addressing a rally in Bolangir, Pradhan had alleged that many NH and railway projects in the state got delayed due to non-clearance by the state government.