New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Mar 12: Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has informed that his Ministry has sanctioned Rs 374.17 crore for national highway projects in Sambalpur district on the request of Union Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.  

"Rs 374.17 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a 3.5 km-long 6-lane fly-over at Ainithapali in Sambalpur city and a 2-lane road over bridge (LHS) on the National Highway-53 (Formerly, NH-6)," informed Gadkari. 

Union Minister Pradhan has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for sanctioning funds for the development of the highways in Sambalpur district. 

"Strengthening of roads and other infrastructure have been a 'Modi Guarantee'. The proposed 6-lane flyover will address the traffic issue in Sambalpur city and the over-bridge on NH-53 will make the movement of citizens easy and safe. The projects will help the local industrial sector grow. Through these infrastructural projects, there will be expeditious growth in the socio-economic scenarios of the State," said Union Minister Pradhan.  

It is noteworthy that Union Minister Pradhan wrote a letter to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways on November 28 last year, requesting more funds for these projects. In the letter, he mentioned that the National Highway-53 connects Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Sambalpur through Baripali Street and Ainthapali. However, people are facing problems due to the lack of a flyover system. Pradhan sought the personal intervention of the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways to speed up the work.