Bhubaneswar March 12 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday dedicated the Sambalpur-Rourkela Biju Expressway to the people.
"It s a new chapter in the history of Odisha. The project which covers a length of 162 km is one of the longest and the expressway will serve as a lifeline for western Odisha " said Patnaik at the inauguration ceremony held at Jharsuguda.
He said the Expressway will connect eight districts of western Odisha with southern Odisha.
The state government is investing about Rs 3 000 crore in the road project.
The construction work of the Biju Expressway has been completed between Sambalpur and Rourkela.
Four-lane roads having a total length of 650-km will connect Sundargarh Jharsuguda Sambalpur Bargarh Nuapada Kalahandi Nabarangpur and Koraput.
Later Patnaik held a meeting in the Bijepur Assembly constituency which the party won in a by-poll held last month.
He said that the promises made during the election will be fulfilled and he would personally monitor the development work.
--IANS
cd/ahm/bg