Sambalpur, Oct. 14: The works department will renovate one road and extend another to provide better connectivity with the main city as well as ease traffic movement.

The first is a road connecting National Highway 6 through Gopalmal in the city, which will be renovated by the public works department (PWD). Executive engineer of PWD H. Majhi said around Rs 3.22 crore would be spent on the renovation of the road. "The tender for the work has been floated and finalised. Work will begin shortly. The work involves drains being provided along the both sides of the road," said Majhi.

Central School and other educational institutions in the city are located along this important road, which has been lying in a bad shape for long. The Khetrajpur railway station also lies on this road.

Residents have welcomed the proposal, as it will help reduce traffic congestion on the busy Laxmi Talkies-Ainthapali Chhak Road, which is considered the entrance to the city and connects with national highway 6 at Ainthapali.

"The Gopalmal road will serve as an alternative road to national highway 6 from the main city after it is renovated. It will help ease traffic movement on the Laxmi Talkies Chhak-Ainthapali main road," said a commuter, Pankaj Behera.

The PWD will also develop Bhima Bhoi Nagar road, which connects Santinagar in Fatak on the busy Laxmi Talkies-Ainthapali Chhak road with Bhim Bhoi Park. This will also become an alternative road to national highway 6.

The road, known as Bhima Bhoi Nagar road, will be extended by 860 metres towards national highway 6 along the foothills of Budharaja Reserve Forest. It will meet NH 6 near the Wesco office in Ainthapali. The tender for construction of the road has been finalised. Work on the project will begin shortly, said sources. The estimated budget of the road is Rs 3.2 crore.