Land acquisition is to be paced up to complete the National Highway projects within the scheduled time, the Odisha government has decided. The State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the progress of different NH projects, asked the officials to expedite the process for getting forest clearances.

The projects, which the State Government wants to complete in time, are Puri-Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar-Chandikhol-Sambalpur-Bargarh, Rimuli-Rajamunda, Panikoili-Rimuli, Cuttack-Angul, Angul-Sambalpur, Biramitrapur-Barkot and Bhuban-Duburi-Chandikhol.Plantation on both sides of the NHs will be taken up. Besides, maintenance and repair of the highways will be given priority.

Besides, a decision was taken to complete two-laning of all the National Highways by 2016-17. Official sources said work for two-laning of 135 kms of NH will be started in 2014-15 while the rest 142.3 kms will be made two-lane in 2015-16. At present, 16 NHs of 3,593.2 km pass through the State.

Out of the total length of the NH, 2130.9 km is under the control of NH wing of State PWD and remaining 1462.32 km have been transferred to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for improvement under National Highway Development Project (NHDP) and port connectivity. Official sources said 124.7 km in the State will be expanded to two-lane in 2013-14. These roads include Bhawanipatna-Kesinga, Chhatabar-Rengali, Nayagarh-Daspalla, Bannogochha-Madhapur, Bangomunda-Tumudibandh, Soroda-Aska and Palalahada-Khamara. Besides, 25 small and old bridges will be repaired during the period. The 2.5-km Grand Road in Puri will also be upgraded during the year.