Puri, Feb 15 (UNI) Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 28 National Highway projects costing Rs 6,600 crore through virtual mode.
The projects dedicated on Thursday include the 6-laning work of the Chandikhol to Bhadrak section of National Highway-16 and 4-laning work of the Baharagora-Singhra section of National Highway-49 at a cost of Rs.2805 crore.
The four laning of 111.606 km on the NH no 49 from Baharagora to Singhara section was built at a cost of Rs.1102.63 crores while the six laning of 74.5 km of NH 16 from Chandikhol-Bhadrak section was completed at a cost of Rs.1522 crores.
These projects, Gadkari said, will reduce travel time save fuel, and will provide easier connectivity to ports on the east coast, which will increase industrial activities.
To give a new pace of development to Odisha, the foundation stone of 26 ambitious projects has also been laid and work on 13 other projects also started.
The Union Minister said with the completion of these projects, the economic development of Odisha will gain momentum.
Also, the journey of the devotees visiting Shri Jagannath Dham and Konark Temple will be safe and completed in time.
Gadkari said the connectivity of Odisha with other states will improve while the access to ports for mining and raw materials will be easier which will boost economic activities.
With the construction of the railway bridge, travel will be safe and speedy, he said.
The Union Minister said in the future the NH road quality in the state will be comparable to that of the USA.
This road connectivity particularly from mining areas to ports will boost the economic activity of the state, minimise the travel time considerably and facilitate hassle-free movement of commuters, he said.
