By Our Correspondent
DHENKANAL/BHUBANESWAR: BJD Dhenkanal Lok Sabha MP, Mahesh Sahoo on Thursday informed that an economic blockade will be staged on April 17 from 8 am to 9am in protest against paltry progress of NH-55-NH149 expansion work. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had already expressed his displeasure over the delay in up-gradation work of NH-55 Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur Section in the State. The work started in 2017 and 5 years passed so far, no major progress has been made, sources said.
BJD MP Sahu said in a tweet, that despite several request, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari paying no heads to the demands locals of Dhenkanal , Angul and Sambalpur districts.
“NH 55 ଏବଂ NH 149 ସଂପ୍ରସାରଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଅହେତୁକ ବିଳମ୍ବ ପ୍ରତିବାଦରେ ଆସନ୍ତା ୧୭ ତାରିଖ ସକାଳ ୮ ରୁ ୯ଟା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଏକ ଘଣ୍ଟା ଧରି ଅର୍ଥନୈତିକ ଅବରୋଧ କରାଯିବ । ବାରମ୍ବାର ଅଭିଯୋଗ, ପ୍ରତିବାଦ ପରେ @nitin_gadkari ନୀରବ କାହିଁକି ? ଯଥାଶୀଘ୍ର ଏହି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ତ୍ୱରାନ୍ୱିତ କରାନଗଲେ ଆଗାମୀ ଦିନରେ ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନକୁ ବ୍ୟାପକ କରାଯିବ ।,’ MP Sahoo said in a tweet.
On March 25 this year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had wrote to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari citing the state of affairs of NH-55, which is lifeline for western Odisha people. The CM Patnaik also mentioned that during last 2 years, as many as 399 accidents have taken place causing 196 fatalities and there is a public agitation and discontent among the people for inordinate delay in completion of the road work.
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that rehabilitation and up-gradation work of Cuttack-Angul-Sambalpur section of NH-55 from Km.0.400 to Km, 265.000 to 4 lane carriageway is being carried out by NHAI since 2017 and it is a matter of great concern that even after more than 5 years, up gradation work is yet to be completed,’ CM Patnaik had mentioned in his letter to Union Minister Gadkari.
