Balasore: A high-power committee headed by the works department secretary will visit the district headquarters town this week for an on-site inspection of the proposed ring road here.

The development came following a recent review meeting of various development projects of the district that was attended by collector Ramesh Chandra Rout and other senior officials, including superintendent of police B. Jugal Kishore, additional district magistrate Manas Ranjan Padhi, sub-collector Nilu Mohapatra and the tehsildars of Balasore and Remuna.

The review meeting was told that the proposed ring road plan had been modified in order to minimise private land acquisition.

The proposed 27.5km ring road will be laid on the town's outskirts between Nuniajodi and Chandipur along the Budhabalanga riverbank with its ends at the national highway and Defence Road at Chandipur. The Defence Research and Development Organisation will construct a 13km stretch, while the irrigation and works departments will construct 12.3km and 2.7km stretches, respectively.

Sources said officials aim to end traffic congestion in the town where unplanned urbanisation has taken a toll on the cityscape. The road will also facilitate hassle free movement for defence establishments.

The road infrastructure here almost remained the same for the past 50 years despite rapid urban growth in recent years. Establishment of new institutions and increase of commercial activities have also played a part in the traffic chaos.

The situation could become acute once people from other places start commuting through the town when the Government Medical College And Hospital becomes funational.

"The road will act as an embankment for the Budhabalanga and protect settlements from floods apart from reducing traffic overload," said Rout. There was also a discussion on the shifting of the jail from Balasore town during the town.