Bhubaneswar: The works department on Monday unveiled a plan to widen the roughly 70km-long stretch from Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district to Khariar in Nuapada from the current two lanes to four lanes. “The project has been taken up keeping in mind people’s needs. The Bhawanipatna-Khariar road expansion will make travelling between the two districts easier as people from villages along the route will be able to reach towns and markets more easily and it will especially benefit small farmers and traders,” works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said.As part of the project, five major and 15 minor bridges will be constructed along the route. The old bridge over the Tel river will also be repaired and renovated. The road project has been allocated around Rs 640 crore, while bridge construction will cost about Rs 91 crore.Harichandan said that the improved road will help passenger buses, ambulances and private vehicles reach destinations faster, cutting travel time and fuel consumption, thereby improving the economy of the region. “Farmers and traders will be able to transport paddy, vegetables, forest produce and other goods to markets with greater ease,” he added.“Better connectivity is also expected to attract commercial activity along the corridor. Shops, petrol pumps, hotels, warehouses and small industries are likely to come up, creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for local residents,” he said.Harichandan added that access to schools, colleges, hospitals and govt offices will become more convenient once the road is widened. “The wider road will help reduce accidents, improve tourism potential and strengthen connectivity to interior areas during floods, cyclones and other emergencies,” he said.
