Angul People Up In Arms Over Worsening Condition Of NH-55

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Senior citizens, social activists as well as intellectuals of the industrial city are up in arms over deteriorating condition of NH-55 which is regarded as the lifeline of Odisha.

Angul Bar Council president Dillip Sahu, advocate Rabi Patnaik, Gopal Nath, Prasanna Behera, Abhay Ray and a number of social activists have taken a vow to urge the government to take action against the construction company which is intentionally delaying four lane work of the highway.       

The 15 km stretch of NH-55 from Panchamahala to Banarpal is a virtual hell interspersed with potholes, ditches and quagmire. The once finest highway is now non-motorable. Most long haul buses have stopped plying on the route due to worsening condition over years. The worst condition of the road has been responsible for killing nearly 15 people so far leaving a large number of people severely injured.

The four lane work that started in 2018  was due to be finished in 2020. But the road construction agency never cared for the deadline nor is it worried over the ultimatum given by no less a person than the Deputy Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly Rajanikant Singh to finish the work at the earliest or face action. The private bus owners in undivided Dhenkanal district also staged a token strike snapping bus services for a day three months ago protesting lackadaisical attitude of the road construction company. But, that did not yield any result.

Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahoo had taken upon the issue with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in December 2021 in New Delhi and urged him to expedite the expansion work of NH-55, but to no avail. The minister had assured him all possible help and cooperation for early completion of four lane work but three months have elapsed since then.

Finding no alternative to tame the adamant road construction agency, Sahoo has now resorted to road blockade and dharna to draw the attention of government and people as well to take on the obstinacy of the construction company.