Jajpur: Delay in the acquisition of 400 acre of land has hit the implementation of National Highway-20 in the state, a report said Wednesday. This highway originates from Bakhtiyarpur in Bihar and terminates at Satabhaya in Odisha. It passes through Parsora, Kendujhargarh in Keonjhar district, Panikoili, Kuakhia, Jajpur in Jajpur district, Aradi, Chandbali in Bhadrak district, and Rajkanika before terminating at Satabhaya in Kendrapara district. The highway from Kuakhia in Jajpur connects with the major tourist spots such as Maa Biraja shrine in Jajpur, Lord Akhandalamani shrine in Aradi, and Chandbali of Bhadrak district via Mangalpur in Jajpur.
In this route, the highway will be four and two lanes. The NHAI has engaged a multinational firm Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Limited (EGIS) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for this 139 km highway project. A sum of Rs 4.68 crore is being spent on the preparation of the DPR. Except for the installation of an information plaque, construction of the highway has been delayed as the state government is yet to hand over 400 acre of land to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Reports said that the NHAI has planned for the construction of the highway to ensure safe travel for commuters and to protect their lives and properties. Delay in land acquisition has sparked resentment among the residents. Meanwhile, officials of the Chief Construction Engineer, NHAI (North Circle) have written to the district Collector of Jajpur to provide half an acre of government land and a government accommodation for the establishment of its two-section offices in Jajpur town. The DPR of the Kuakhia-Satabhaya section has been completed and land acquisition started. The project has received clearance and Rs 636.10 crore will be spent on it. The tender process has also been completed.
However, its implementation has been delayed as the acquisition of 400 acre of land is yet to be completed, sources from the office of the chief construction engineer of NHAI said. It is apprehended that the new highway will miss its deadline as the land acquisition is yet to get completed. The road at present is very narrow and owing to the heavy traffic, frequent mishaps take place on this road.
However, the concerned officials are not showing enough promptitude to complete the land acquisition process. Besides the construction of the new highway, the district administration in a meeting six years back had decided to construct bypass roads at Kuakhia, Jajpur, and Aradi. Since then six years have passed but no effort is being made to acquire the land and hand them over to NHAI authorities.