Paradip, June 10: The National Highways Authority of India has decided to develop the Daitari-Paradip Express Highway in the operate-maintain-transfer (OMT) mode.

Lack of periodic maintenance on part of the highways authority has left the expressway in a bad shape.

The tender bidding is on to hand over the maintenance of the highway to a private farm in the OMT mode. The contract would be for six years to repair and maintain the highway. As the highway is in bad shape in certain patches, a local construction company has been entrusted to undertake the repair till the OMT bid is finalised, said a senior official.

The 77km-long highway incidentally happens to be the principal road connectivity between the mineral-rich areas and Paradip port. It remains in bad shape following gross absence of repair and maintenance. The highway has come under encroachments at strategic traffic junctions. As a result, it has become prone to road accidents on a daily basis.

“It has become a nightmare for motorists to ride on the highway. The road has turned uneven due to lack of maintenance and periodic repairs,” said car owner Samarendra Mohanty.

The road bridge walkways in various places have turned into death traps as the walkways for pedestrians are bereft of concrete slaps. To move over the walkway is like inviting certain death, said bridge-side villager Mahendra Rout.

The 10-km stretch from Bhootmundai to Atharbanki is not in a motorable condition and one has to undergo a bitter experience at many places on the stretch as it is replete with potholes. The busy traffic junctions are also encroached upon by roadside kiosks and eateries.

Unregulated plying of ore-laden trucks on the highway, widely regarded as the busiest road route in the state, has become the order of the day. As a result, it has triggered the worst form of traffic jam, paralysing lives of the highway-side residents especially in Kendrapara district.

The bad state of the road, unauthorised parking besides the encroachment spree further aggravated the situation.

“It’s criminal negligence on part of the authority not to take care the highway. It is collecting hefty toll cess and, therefore, duty bound to keep the road in proper shape. But things are on the contrary. We have urged upon the officials to set right the road in perfect condition to ensure speedy travel,” said Paradip Private Truck Operators’ Union president Sumant Biswal.