2 more flyovers to be built on NH passing through silk city

Berhampur: Two more flyovers will be built on NH-59 passing through the silk city at the cost of Rs 315 crore. The Union govt approved the state govt’s proposal on Wednesday under its Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CIRF) for 2026-27.The ministry of road transport and highways has approved 10 road projects of the state mostly from southern Odisha, including two flyovers for Berhampur under the CIRF scheme. The total outlay of the projects is Rs 769.69crore and includes widening, strengthening and construction of roads. Two flyovers in Berhampur are included in the projects, sources said.The new flyover bridges along with the approaches will be built from Tata Benz square to MKCG Medical College and from Giri Road junction to Old Bus stand over NH 59 at an estimated cost of Rs 146 crore and Rs 168.26 crore respectively.These flyovers will bring relief to the people of Berhampur who have to grapple with traffic problems,” said K Anil Kumar, MLA (Berhampur). He had demanded for the flyover at Kamapalli and Giri Road junction to ease traffic congestion and written to the state govt in July 2024.Expressing thanks to the state govt for taking up his demand on priority basis, the MLA said the projects will boost the city’s economic and peripheral development.Currently, a flyover is being built in Gate Bazar at an estimated cost of over Rs 115 crore. The flyover would be 1,135 metre long and 22 metre wide with 5.5 metre service roads on both sides, said a senior engineer of the state-owned Orissa Bridge& Construction Corporation Ltd (OBCC), the agency which is executing the project.The work is expected to be completed in the next one year, sources said. Three railways over bridges (ROB) have already been constructed in the city. These are at Lanjipalli, Haladiapadar and Gosaninuagaon areas.