Bhubaneswar, July 30 (UDN): The Odisha government has stepped up efforts to restore road connectivity and repair public infrastructure damaged by incessant rainfall and flooding, with the Works Department launching an emergency restoration drive across affected districts.
Reviewing the flood situation on Wednesday, Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan directed officials to expedite the repair of roads, bridges and government buildings damaged by the recent heavy rains. He instructed the department to ensure that all major roads, including national highways, are made safe and traffic-worthy at the earliest to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
During the high-level review meeting, attended by Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and senior departmental officials, the minister stressed the need for swift and coordinated action to restore connectivity in flood-hit areas and prevent further disruption to public services.
Following the meeting, the Works Department issued immediate instructions to all concerned agencies, including the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited (OBCC), the Engineer-in-Chief (Civil-cum-Roads), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), regional offices of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Chief Engineers overseeing roads, bridges and national highways.
The agencies have been directed to identify damaged stretches, prioritise restoration work and deploy adequate manpower and machinery to complete repairs on a war footing. Special emphasis has been laid on restoring connectivity in areas where floodwaters have disrupted transportation.
The department has also asked field engineers and local officials to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable roads and bridges, promptly address emerging issues and implement necessary safety measures to ensure the smooth and secure movement of vehicles until full normalcy is restored.
The state government said the restoration of critical transport infrastructure remains a top priority as several districts continue to grapple with the impact of heavy rainfall and flood-related damage.