Efforts underway to restore NH-157 communication between Ganjam and Kandhamal districts after Sept 16 landslide

Berhampur: Direct road communication between Ganjam and Kandhamal districts on NH-157 could not be restored even though almost a month has passed since the landslide near Kalinga Ghat on Sept 16 due to continuous rain in the region.The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) started immediate work to restore communication on the vital link. The constructed road is often washed away in the rainwater flowing from the hilltops.“We expect the concrete work will be completed in the next two days, if good weather conditions. We are trying to open the stretch for communication by the end of this week or beginning of next week,” says Bankim Chandra Panda, chief construction engineer (CCE), NHAI.Despite the difficult terrain, reconstruction of the 40-metre long and 5-metre wide was undertaken to restore communication on the highway. After the NH restoration, we will prepare a detailed project report and submit it to the NHAI for construction of the road permanently, said Panda. Earlier, the Kandhamal district administration shut the road till Sept 30 for safety of people.