Bhubaneswar, Jan 12: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday laid the foundation stone for an elevated corridor between Jayadev Vihar and Nandankanan in Bhubaneswar.
The ambitious project will be executed at an estimated cost of ₹952 crore and includes the construction of four flyovers at Jayadev Vihar Square, Kalinga Hospital Square, Damana Square and KIIT Square to ease traffic congestion along one of the city’s busiest stretches.
Marking National Road Safety month, the Chief Minister also rolled out a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at strengthening road safety, modernising urban transport and accelerating infrastructure development, while inaugurating and laying foundation stones for projects worth more than ₹6,700 crore.
Addressing a state-level programme at the Convention Hall of Lok Seva Bhawan, Majhi expressed concern over the rising number of road accidents in Odisha and across the country, urging citizens to strictly adhere to traffic rules.
Declaring road safety an integral component of good governance, he said the government would pursue the issue with greater seriousness and accountability.
The Chief Minister said Odisha’s road safety strategy is based on the four globally recognised ‘E’s—Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency response—focusing on awareness and training, strict enforcement of traffic laws, improved road and vehicle engineering, and prompt medical response.
Expanding the framework, he added two more ‘E’s: Environment, through enforcement of pollution norms and promotion of cleaner mobility, and Evaluation, to assess outcomes and refine policies.
To institutionalise accountability and promote best practices, Majhi announced the launch of the Mukhyamantri Sadak Surakhya Yojana Samman, under which districts, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations will be recognised for exemplary road safety initiatives.
High-performing districts will be rewarded, while underperforming ones will be held accountable. Schools and institutions demonstrating effective interventions will also be honoured to spread awareness across society.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative for ghat road safety, the Chief Minister inaugurated an alert siren system at Kalinga Ghat. Under the pilot project, sirens will sound from both ends of the ghat when vehicles approach, alerting drivers in advance. The system will be replicated on other ghat roads if found successful.
To strengthen urban traffic management, an MoU was signed with IIT Kharagpur to improve traffic systems in the Cuttack–Bhubaneswar Twin City, with future interventions guided by the institute’s technical recommendations.
Reinforcing the state’s push for sustainable mobility, Majhi inaugurated 15 electric vehicle charging stations in Bhubaneswar. He said 85 more charging stations are under construction across Odisha and will be commissioned soon, with further expansion planned.
Public transport infrastructure also received a major boost with the inauguration of 14 new Atal Bus Stands across 10 districts at a cost of ₹156.53 crore. With 55 such bus stands already operational, the government plans to establish Atal Bus Stands in all districts, sub-divisions, panchayat samitis and municipalities.
