Bhubaneswar: To ease commuters’ movement on the Sachivalaya Marg, one of the major thoroughfares of the city, the public works department has planned to create a dedicated corridor between Airport Square and Acharya Vihar Square.The plan entails widening of the 6-km-odd road, which houses some of the major institutions like the State Assembly and State Secretariat or Lok Seva Bhavan, to six lanes from the current four, with separate pedestrian and parking facilities.One of the unique features of the project is the development of underpasses for vehicles at key junctions such as AG Square, Capital Hospital Square and Airport Square for hassle-free movement of different sections of commuters.Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently reviewed the ambitious plan at a high-level meeting he chaired. Officials briefed him about the status and execution plan of the dedicated corridor along with other development projects.The Minutes of the meeting accessed by TOI revealed that the CM was informed that the works department will take up execution of Acharya Vihar Square to Airport Square with underpasses at AG, Airport and Capital Hospital Square during the 2026-27 fiscal.Sachivalaya Marg is the most important stretch, which witnesses frequent movement of VIPs and VVIPs, especially due to the existence of the assembly and secretariat along with other major institutions like the state guest house and major govt offices.There are major intersections at Institute of Engineers Square, Rabindra Mandap Square and Housing Board Square, among others, where smart traffic signals are installed and programmed in such a way to ensure seamless movement of vehicles.“The plan to construct an underpass at AG Square was already in the pipeline. In the high-level meeting, we explored the idea to create more underpasses at Capital Hospital and Airport Square, which was approved,” said a works department official.Officials said the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Ltd will spearhead the project. “The detailed project report will be prepared after a feasibility study of the entire stretch,” said OBCC managing director Anupam Saha.Sources said there is enough govt land on both sides of Sachivalaya Marg for taking up the widening work, which will ensure smooth execution of the project. The land was kept in reserve on the stretch for future expansion, they added.
