Sambalpur, Feb. 21: The road connecting Remed with Hirakud will shortly be increased to 10 metres.

The public works department (PWD) will execute the work, which has been estimated to cost around Rs 10.5 crore.

"At present, the width of the road is only seven metres and its length from Remed to Hirakud is 6.21km. However, the width of the entire stretch will be increased to 10 metres," said Bashistha Pattnaik, an executive engineer of the PWD.

Pattnaik also said the tender process for the road widening work had already been completed. "The department will soon finalise the contract," said Pattnaik.

The project is expected to be completed fast as the road expansion would not require any land acquisition.

"Hirakud is a part of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation. A good road is essential for better communication between Hirakud and Sambalpur. The expansion will provide better connectivity," Pattnaik said. Thousands of people from Hirakud, which has a population of around 35,000, use the road to come to Sambalpur every day.

Students residing in Hirakud also use it to reach their schools and colleges. The road expansion will also help the area's development as Hirakud houses many industries.

"Heavy vehicles are often seen parked along the road, causing traffic congestion. However, the problem will be resolved once the road is widened," said a traffic personnel.

Hirakud resident Kamalakshya Pruseth said: "Hundreds of tourists visit the Hirakud Dam, Jawahar Park and Gandhi Minar every day."

"This leads to a heavy traffic flow on the road. A widened road will ease traffic congestion in the area. The department concerned should expedite the process and begin work at the earliest," he said.