A part of the 4km completed stretch of Ring Road near the banks of Kuakhai river. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 11: The plan to ensure a smooth ride around the city is stuck in land hurdles.

The first phase of work on the Ring Road encircling the city, which was to be completed by December, will take more time as land acquisition problems have cropped up.

The tardy progress of work has raised questions about the government’s wish to build yet another Ring Road encircling around 250sqkm under a separate capital region master plan for ring roads.

An official said construction for the first phase of the Ring Road had faced a roadblock between Tankapani Road and Lingipur Square as the public works department (PWD) failed to acquire land. However, the construction on around 8km between Hi-Tech Square and Tankapani Road, which is the part of the 13km stretch that is included in the first phase of work on the Ring Road, has been going on smoothly after the land acquisition issues were sorted out.

“The construction of this stretch will be completed by March 2014,” said an officer.

Former chief engineer of PWD Bijon Behera said work had been going on in full swing between Tankapani Road and NH-5. “Once the land hurdle on the remaining stretch is resolved, the road will be completed,” said Behara.

Several villages are located on the banks of the Kuakhai river on the last 5km stretch of the project. An official said villagers here were not ready to part with their land, which had been creating problems.

Chief engineer of PWD Bharat Chandra Pradhan said that if the land acquisition problem persisted they would outline a new detailed project report to complete the work. “We may make bypasses near the villages if the problem persists,” said Pradhan.

This 13km stretch on the banks of the Kuakhai river runs parallel to the newly constructed national highway No. 203, which connects Palasuni on NH-5 and Lingipur Square. PWD sources said the proposed Ring Road for the city would help the growing capital region in improving communication, as the main arterial roads would connect to it. It would also reduce threat of floodwaters entering the city.

The foundation stone for the first phase of this Ring Road was laid in February 2011, but the work was delayed because of various issues. There is no set deadline for this project.

The chief engineer of PWD said the detailed project report for the entire 75km Ring Road encircling 130sqkm area of the city was being worked upon.

“The Bhubaneswar Development Authority is preparing the report and once it is finished, work will start,” said Pradhan.

An official said that recently, during a meeting of the housing and urban development department, the proposal for the second ring road was mooted. This second road would be under a separate capital region master plan for ring roads. It would help improve connectivity for those living on the city outskirts.

“The detailed project report for the outer ring road will be prepared some time in the future,” said an official.

STRETCH FOR FASTER TRAVEL

FIRST RING ROAD

• Work on first phase began in 2011
• In first phase, 13km will be laid. No deadline set
• Total length of road proposed by Bhubaneswar Development Authority is 75km and it will encircle 130sqkm
• Around 4km of road from Hi-Tech Square to Kiminia village on banks of Kuakhai river completed
• Work in progress on another 4km stretch from Kiminia village to Tankapani Road
• Work on remaining 5km stretch between Tankapani Road and Lingipur Square, where ring road will touch NH-203, is yet to start because of land hurdles
• 13km road being laid in first phase of project will run parallel to newly
constructed NH-203 bypass road
• First phase estimated to cost Rs 35.09 crore
• Project being executed by roads and buildings division of the PWD

BENEFITS

• Will be connected with series of internal roads making commuting smoother
• Will act as barrier against floodwaters entering city

OFFICIALSPEAK

“Work is on in full swing between Tankapani Road and NH-5, but there have been certain disputes in the last 5km. Once these problems are resolved, the road will be completed.”
Bijon Behera, former chief engineer, PWD

“Land acquisition is moot cause for delay. A new detailed project report will be made for the remaining 5km to overcome these problems. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority
is working on it. Once they submit the report, work could be completed in the next three to four years.” Bharat Chandra Pradhan, chief engineer, PWD

SECOND RING ROAD

State government plans second ring road which will go around an area of 250sqkm and be called Greater Ring Road

Detailed project report being prepared