BHUBANESWAR: Highlighting the rising Left- wing extremism (LWE) in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested the Centre for early approval of 45 roads in the Maoist-affected districts. The roads running into 1,358 km would cost Rs. 2,674 crore. The issue was raised by the Chief Minister during his meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Dr CP Joshi in New Delhi. Joshi assured the Chief Minister that the Centre is committed to sanction roads in Naxal-affected districts and the proposal for the 45 new roads will be approved during the current financial year. Naveen informed the the Union Minister about the loss of life and large-scale damage caused by the unprecedented September floods. He sought Rs. 50 crore for urgent repair and restoration of damaged National Highways. The Chief Minister requested that upgradation of two approved NHs __ Panikoili to Remuli and Talcher to Chandikhole __ to four lanes may be taken up at the earliest. He said there is a need to provide adequate funds for repair and maintenance of National Highways in the State besides a provision of ` 36 crore for periodic renewal of specified stretches of NHs which have been approved for upgradation under National Highway Development Project (NHDP). Naveen demanded that five State Highways __ Berhampur-Koraput, Madhapur-Rayagada, Phulnakhara-Konark, Kuakhia-Aradi-Bhadrak and Palasa-Khariar __ be upgraded to NHs. He further demanded that there should be immediate repair of the high-level bridge over river Jira on NH-6 in addition to construction of additional waterway on NH-60. The Union Minister was also requested to expedite sanction of estimates for land acquisition for enabling construction of seven new bypasses in Balangir on NH-26, Titlagarh on NH-59, Berhampur on NH-59, Nabarangpur on NH-26, Boriguma on NH-26, Jeypore on NH-26 and Koraput on NH-26 and urgently allocate funds to the State under the Central Road Fund. Joshi informed Naveen that he will depute chairman, NHAI, to the State to assess the difficulties associated with NHs and take appropriate action to ensure their upgradation. On construction of bypasses, he assured that Berhampur bypass on NH-59 will be taken up immediately and the proposals for other bypasses will be considered in due course. He informed that his Ministry has approved the Transport Management System for Orissa State Road Transport Corporation at a cost of Rs. 4.7 crore for improving road safety on NHs.
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