Bhubaneswar, April 13: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited Barbil Bypass-cum-Ring Road project in Keonjhar district, delivering on a major promise to residents of the mining town.
The 18.326-kilometre bypass, estimated to cost ₹1,581.21 crore, is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and enhance connectivity in Barbil and nearby areas.
The Chief Minister noted that the project would address persistent issues caused by heavy vehicular traffic, especially from mining activities.
At the Barbil event, Majhi also inaugurated 24 projects worth ₹29.41 crore and laid foundation stones for 51 additional projects involving investments of ₹326.43 crore across the district.
Emphasising the importance of the bypass, he said it has been designed to accommodate up to 40,000 passenger car units (PCU) daily, compared to the current load of around 15,375 PCU. The project includes three main stretches: 3.7 km from Bhadra Sahi to Serenda, 6.3 km from Serenda to Balani, and 8.3 km from Serenda to Nalda.
According to Majhi, the ring road will not only ease congestion but also promote urban expansion, stimulate economic activity, and lower transportation costs, contributing to overall regional development.
He further announced a ₹298 crore power sub-station project for the Joda, Basudebpur, and Barbil regions, and instructed officials to speed up work on the proposed 8-lane Barbil–Paradip road.
Several other road projects were also launched, including the ₹95 crore Bamweri–Palasa–Guruda–Koida road (10 km), the ₹30 crore Suakati–Dubuna–Kalimati road (approximately 7.5 km), and the ₹30 crore upgrade of the Palaspanga–Bamweri KIDCO road (around 5.5 km).
Infrastructure improvements in Barbil include upgrades at Utsav Padia, such as new sports facilities and a modernised bus stand costing ₹9.27 crore. Additional civic projects include enhancements to a playground and park near the Barbil ITI staff quarters, along with the construction of a new sub-registrar office and town hall.
Highlighting infrastructure as the backbone of development, Majhi said the state government is prioritising roads, bridges, electricity, and drinking water to build a “Samruddha Odisha.”
