February 26th 2025.
Joda, a town in the Keonjhar district, has been facing a major problem with the repair and expansion of State Highway-2. This road connects Joda to Bamebari and is crucial for the transportation of minerals to railway sidings, factories, and ports across the country. However, due to administrative delays and negligence, the project has been left incomplete, making the road prone to accidents and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Despite being designated as a State Highway, the lack of administrative commitment has hindered the progress of the project. This has greatly affected the daily lives of people residing in Banspani, Balada, Badakalimati, Palasha, Jajang, Jalahari, and Jurudi panchayats, who heavily rely on this road for their daily commute. With around 8,000 trucks plying on this route every day, the road condition has worsened, leading to frequent accidents and traffic jams.
In light of these issues, the state government had announced the upgradation of this road, which falls under the Works department, to State Highway-2. Additionally, Rs57 crore was sanctioned from the District Mineral Foundation in 2018 for the expansion of this road into a four-lane highway. However, bureaucratic apathy and hurdles have resulted in the project being stalled.
The critical junctions along the stretch, such as Banspani to Jurudi, Antaramantar Square, Heshabeda Square, Bamebari Bazaar, and Kalimati Square, are facing severe congestion. Moreover, the dilapidated and narrow bridges at Banspani, Jurudi, and Antaramantar urgently require reconstruction. The locals, including Surendra Mohanty, Pranab Mohanty, Madhu Sahu, Binod Karua, Shibu Sharma, and Chittaranjan Mohanty, have expressed their frustration and have urged the administration to expedite the road work.
In response to the concerns raised by the locals, the Works department sub-divisional officer, Ramdas Marandi, stated that the funds allocated earlier have not been fully utilized. He also mentioned that a revised proposal is being prepared at the government level to complete the four-lane project. It is high time for the authorities to take immediate action and fulfill their commitment towards the development and safety of the citizens.
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