Bhubaneswar, October 6: In a move aimed at tackling the growing passengers and freight movement along the national highways across Sambalpur parliamentary constituency and the adjoining regions, Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, urging him to accord administrative and financial approval for three NH projects on a priority basis.

In a letter, the former Union Minister requested upgradation of Sambalpur-Cuttack National Highway from 4-Lane to 6-Lane.

Pradhan emphasised that with rapidly increasing passenger, freight, mining and industrial traffic, the existing 4-lane Sambalpur-Cuttack corridor be considered for upgradation to 6 lanes, along with provision of two-lane service roads on both sides to facilitate local traffic.

“The Sambalpur-Cuttack corridor is a strategically important highway connecting western part of Odisha with the State's major industrial, commercial and urban centres. With rapidly increasing passenger, freight, mining and industrial traffic, I request that the existing 4-lane corridor may kindly be considered for upgradation to 6 lanes, along with provision of two-lane service roads on both sides to facilitate local traffic. This would substantially improve traffic movement, road safety and logistics connectivity and support the continued economic growth of the region,” wrote Pradhan.

Similarly, the Angul-Sambalpur Section for NH-55 also requires four underpasses as a long-term safety initiative due to heavy movement of mining commercial vehicles along the stretch.

“There is a growing road safety concern in the Angul-Sambalpur section of NH-55 due to the heavy movement of mining and commercial vehicles, along with frequent interaction with local traffic and pedestrians. PIU Sambalpur has proposed four underpasses as long term safety interventions at Jindal Road, Jarapada, Jeranga and Charmal. I request that the necessary administrative and financial approval may kindly be accorded and the work taken up on priority,” urged Pradhan.

He also requested the Union Minister for construction of flyover at Sambalpur City Railway Station Square on NH-53.

The Sambalpur City Railway Station Square on NH- 53 remains a major road-safety concern, as a large number of railway passengers are required to cross the busy highway at grade. The location has also been. identified as a potential black spot, said Pradhan.

“I, therefore, request that the proposal for construction of a flyover at the Sambalpur City Railway Station Square may kindly be sanctioned and the necessary process gets expedited for early commencement of the work,” said the senior BJP leader.

“In view of the above, I request your personal intervention to direct the concerned officials of the Ministry and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to accord the necessary administrative and financial approval for taking these three proposals on priority,” requested Pradhan.