Odisha continues to maintain a leading position in infrastructure development compared to other states, with numerous large-scale projects currently underway and several more set to begin soon. This was emphasised by Works, Law and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan while chairing a comprehensive review meeting on the implementation of various development projects under the Works Department.
Addressing senior officials at the Lok Seva Bhavan conference hall, the Minister directed the preparation of a detailed three-year action plan to ensure successful and time-bound execution of all ongoing and upcoming projects. He laid special stress on road widening, regular maintenance, and completing every project within the stipulated deadline to deliver the best possible quality facilities to the people of Odisha.
The meeting thoroughly reviewed the progress of State Highway projects, various initiatives under the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), and traffic decongestion works in major cities including Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Rourkela, Puri, Balasore, Keonjhar, and Brahmapur. Discussions also focused on the upgradation of prominent temples across the state.
The Minister further instructed officials to accelerate the development of approximately 3,300 km of roads recently transferred from the Rural Development Department to the Works Department. Emphasis was also placed on creating “Way Side Amenity Centers” along highways to provide minimum basic facilities to commuters.
Principal Secretary, Works Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh presented a detailed briefing on the status of various projects.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Special Secretary (Engineering) Laxmikant Padhi, Additional Secretary Deepak Ranjan Das, EIC (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, EIC (Design, Planning & Coordination) Samir Hota, Advisor J.K. Das, EIC (Roads) Dhyanachand Nayak, Joint Secretary Diptiranjan Behera, Financial Advisor Ratikanta Mahapatra, Chief Engineer (National Highways) Narayan Patel, Chief Construction Engineer Manoj Mahanand, and Chief Engineer Shivbrat Taria, among others.
