http://tathya.in/story.asp?sno=592
In 60s, the legendary Biju Patnaik had created sort of history by setting up the Express Highway in Orissa. Apparently following his father’s foot steps, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has succeeded inbringing a National Highway for Orissa.
This time, the junior Patnaik’s road is longer one, spanning from Motu in Malkangiri to Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj.The original proposal for the much-awaited Vijaywada-Ranchi (VR) Road, mooted by Union Home Minister , got the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in principle approval, disclosed an official here on December 5.Of the 2000 km highway major slice of the road of 1219 km lies in Orissa.With this approval Orissa emerges as the biggest beneficiary.
The meeting chaired by T K A Nair, Principal Secretary in PMO, was attended by Union Rural Development Secretary Subas Pani, Union Road Transport & Highways Secretary Vijaya singh,chairman NHAI and others.
The VR Road, referred as the South-North corridor will be spread over 12 tribal dominated districts of Orissa, sources said.
Sources said the idea of having a Expressway in tribal dominated districts came in the wake of the left wing extremists activities in some parts of the state.Chief Minister Mr.Patnaik feels that once the road communications in tribal districts are established, the government can easily tackle the LWEs problems.
Of the total 2000 km length of the VR Road, the Orisa will get 1219 km road. The districts to be covered under this road are: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhmal,Boudh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
Sources said the PMO approved this road after the Central Rural Development ministry agreed to fund its share for developing the road.Union RD Secretary Subas Pani who till December was the Chief Secretary of Orissa, sources said lobbied for Naveen’s Road. Dr. Pani was, in fact,instrumental in Naveen’s Government as the CS, to shout for the VR Road. Naveen in the past meetings, either with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh or with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil or while addressing the Internal Security Council conference, had raised the VR Road issue.
According to the initial estimate, while the RD ministry would provide Rs 186 crore, World Bank had agreed to give Rs 253 crore.
Rest of the money would come from: Rs 227 crore by the National Highway Authority of India(NHAI)and Rs 216 crore from the KBK Plan.
At least Rs 110 crore from the State Plan of the Orissa Government will be provided, said Nalini Kanta Pradhan, Engineer-in-Chief of the Works department.Mr.Pradhan said Orissa has already started the process of availing funding from the Inter State connectivity Fund.
The multiple funding is being arranged keeping in view the magnitude of the project.All the three states like Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand will be funding their share in this ambitious project, said sources.
The VR project will also open up gainful economic opportunities for large number of poor tribal communities, said an official.
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