By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has sought the personal intervention of Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi to strengthen coal transportation and industrial infrastructure in Angul district. In a letter in this regard, Shri Pradhan has proposed the widening and construction of bypass of the Chendipada-Angul State Highway (SH-63) and requested for the extension of the Chendipada-Jarpada district main road.
Shri Pradhan mentioned in his letter that Angul district, located in the central part of the state, has a population of about 1.5 million and contributes about 5 percent to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GSDP). The annual coal production of this coal-rich district is estimated to increase from the current 116 million tonnes (MT) to 250-300 million tonnes by 2033. The district is creating a conducive environment for heavy industries like steel, aluminium and thermal power plants, advanced manufacturing and allied MSMEs. Angul is home to major industrial and energy hubs like NALCO Smelter Plant, NTPC Kaniha, Talcher Super Thermal Power Station and the vast coal mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, which form the backbone of the state’s energy security.
The Chendipada tehsil area in particular is very important for the country’s energy security as it contains about one-sixth of India’s coal reserves. However, the existing road infrastructure, especially State Highway-63 and the Chendipada-Jarpada district main road, is inadequate for transporting large quantities of coal. He pointed out that these roads pass through populated areas, causing traffic jams, accidents and dissatisfaction among the local people.
To solve this problem, Shri Pradhan has made two major proposals. Firstly, he has requested to widen the State Highway-63 from two lanes to four lanes from Chendipada to Angul and to construct a bypass in the populated area. Secondly, Shri Pradhan has proposed to widen the Chendipada-Jarpada main district road. He said that this road connects the mining area with National Highway No. 55 and the railway corridor. Its widening will reduce the vehicular pressure on State Highway-63 and create an alternative transport route. Shri Pradhan opined that improved road connectivity will not only make coal transportation easier, but it will also attract investment in the area and help in the social and economic development of the local people.
