NHAI's Change To Proposed Coastal Highway To West Bengal irks Odisha Government- The New Indian Express

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By Specific Information Service

BHUBANESWAR: The proposed coastal freeway connecting Gopalpur in Odisha with Digha in West Bengal has run into controversy with the Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI) altering its alignment for the third time in final three years and dumping its earlier proposal that was acceptable to the State authorities.

The 450-km freeway to cross by six coastal districts shall be constructed at a value of Rs 7,000 crore underneath the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana. As per the unique alignment, the freeway was to cross by the eco-sensitive zone of Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon Chilika on which the NHAI had deliberate two signature bridges.

Nonetheless, the alignment was modified after the State authorities wished to bypass Chilika as its natural world and the habitat of dolphins could also be affected by the constructions.

At a high-level assembly chaired by the then Chief Secretary on November 15, 2019, the federal government had agreed to the revised alignment introduced by the NHAI on the stretch from Satapada to Digha having a distance of round 370 km.

For the reason that dialogue on the 70-km stretch from Gopalpur to Satapada through Chilika remained inconclusive, it was determined to take up the matter after the format of the 370 km stretch is prepared. Greater than a 12 months after the choice, the NHAI has give you a recent alignment by dividing the challenge into two parts.

As per the brand new alignment, the primary element of the proposed coastal freeway will now begin from Tangi in Khurda as an alternative of Satpada and terminate at Ratanpur in Bhadrak protecting a distance of 177.119 km. The second element of the freeway is 60.7 km Ratanpur-Dhamra and 110 km Basudevpur-Digha.

The remaining 30 km stretch from Dhamra to Basudevpur to be taken up underneath one other bundle of the NHAI. Though the recent alignment was authorised by the Professional Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change in October final 12 months, it got here to the fore throughout a assessment by Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Sanjay Dasburma.

“Already six years have handed because the challenge was introduced. However the alignment of the freeway is but to be finalised. How can it’s termed as coastal freeway whether it is constructed far-off from the coast? The alignment isn’t acceptable because it deviates from the essential mandate,” Dasburma mentioned.

Chief Common Supervisor (Technical) of NHAI Ram Prasad Panda mentioned, “The alignment is awaiting the nod of the Land Acquisition Committee”

Revised plan