Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Biju Expressway at Amapani and the Biju Economic Corridor from Sohela to Amapani on 05 March 2023.
To provide superior connectivity to the Western Odisha, a four-lane expressway connecting Rourkela and Ampani over a length of 546 km has been constructed. The last phase of 176 km from Ghatipada to Ampani was completed during 2022-23 at a cost of Rs 600 crore.
The Biju Expressway and the economic corridor expected to increase economic activity between western and southern parts of the state as well as tourism. The people of Sundergarha, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts will benefit from the corridor.
The CM also launched various developmental projects worth Rs 3,081 crore in Baragarha, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts. He launched various projects worth Rs 17 crore in Bargarh district and for Nuapada district, laid foundation stone for 17 projects worth Rs 765 crore. In Kalahandi, he inaugurated projects worth Rs 575 crore and laid the foundation for projects worth Rs 1,573 crore.
Meanwhile, the phase-II of the Biju Expressway was announced recently in the state budget 2023-24 from Berhmapur to Jeypore. The Phase-II of the Biju Expressway, four-lane connectivity will be provided for about 335 km at a cost of about Rs 6,100 crore, mostly in greenfield area.
“Biju Expressway is not just a road, it is a lifeline for the region. This road will write a new history of development. There will be improvement in healthcare. New industries will come up in this area”.
