Doubling work of Puri-Bhubaneswar NH-316 is under way. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 24: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari to complete the construction of the national highway between Bhubaneswar and Puri by March 2015 ahead of the Nabakalebar festival scheduled in June next year.

More than 30 lakh pilgrims are likely to visit Puri during the festival that will see changing of the Trinity’s idols.

This occasion comes once in every 12 to 18 years. The traffic flow is likely to be affected if the highway project is not completed in time.

The old NH-203 connecting Bhubaneswar with Puri has been renamed as NH-316, and the construction of four lanes started on March 7, 2011.

The National Highways Authority of India was to complete the construction within 30 months from March 2011. However, during rath yatra this year, a part of the road was opened for public usage.

The highway authority sources said Rs 529 crore was being invested for development of the 67.25-km long highway.

In another development, Naveen has also requested Union railway minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda to complete doubling of the railway tracks between Puri and Khurda junction, so that during the celebration, passengers will face less trouble.