Odisha CM Inaugurates 75th Indian Roads Congress
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated 75th Annual Session of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister was also present on the occasion as the chief guest. IRC President, Sunil Bhowmik presided over the session.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged experts to think about utilizing industrial wastes such as fly ash, slag and plastic waste in road construction. “Fly ash to the tune of 25.307 million tonnes and 0.828 million tonnes of slag are being produced in Odisha every year. The disposal of these materials is a real troublesome task for the producers and a menace for the state. I propose that sufficient thought should be given to utilise the industrial wastes,” the chief minister said while addressing the Platinum Jubilee session of Indian Roads Congress here.
He said the government is spending about 25 percent of its budget on road construction in the state. “I understand that road infrastructure will pave the way for other infrastructure. I have given thought to connect all the backward districts with industrial areas. Recently, we have tendered for Biju Expressway, which would connect the industrial city of Rourkela with Raipur in Chhattisgarh,” Patnaik said.
The Vijaywada-Ranchi corridor, which has been substantially completed, connects 12 tribal districts. He said the government has launched the State Highways Development Programme to improve all state highways. It has also launched the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana this year, that would take care of the roads not developed under any other scheme. The chief minister said engineers have been asked to adopt the quickest method of bridge construction for rural connectivity. The government has set a target of completing 114 roads this year.
Chief Secretary G.C. Pati said the government has taken steps for inter-state connectivity to boost trade and commerce with neighbouring states. He emphasised on the quick execution of road construction in extremist affected areas of the state to connect the people with the administration. Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra inaugurated the Technical Exhibition on Sunday afternoon. Indian Roads Congress has been organizing five-day Annual session from January 18 to 22 to mark the platinum jubilee it completed glorious 75 years.
Organizers have informed that the five-day event would include around six technical sessions, one business session and one council meeting. It is reported by the officials of IRC in a press meet organized in Bhubaneswar that around 4,000 highway engineers and experts would take part in the annual session of Indian Roads Congress in Bhubaneswar. (With input from IANS)