Odisha CM requests Gadkari to tackle water-logging along NH-16 in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday sought Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s intervention for an immediate solution to the water-logging problem along NH-16 in capital city Bhubaneswar.

In a letter, the Chief Minister said the area is getting inundated during rains resulting in severe disruption of road traffic and damage to parked vehicles.

He said the issue should be addressed resolved quickly as the situation is getting bad to worse.

“Occurrence of such ponding of rainwater for such long periods has been observed from the days of construction of the solid embankment of the National Highway without providing adequate discharge points and ventages,” he added.

“Constructing solid high embankments instead of viaducts aggravates the drainage issues by concentrating the rainwater into the valleys. A similar situation is also occurring near Jaydev Vihar Square, Rasulgarh/Palasuni and Pahala on NH-16,” said the Chief Minister.

He said National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) authorities have been requested to construct a drain along the service lane of NH-16 from ISKCON area to Vani Vihar area for smooth discharge of the rainwater and provide similar provisions near Rasulgarh/Palasuni and Pahala on NH-16.

“But the issues have not yet been addressed and the situation is getting bad to worse,” the Chief Minister said.

He said the service lane near ISKCON Temple is getting inundated during rains sometimes up to 3 ft of water resulting in severe disruption of road traffic and damages to parked vehicles.