Odisha Govt Orders Urgent Road Repairs Ahead of Dussehra Festivities

With Dussehra around the corner, the Odisha government has launched a statewide road repair initiative to ensure smoother travel and festive readiness.

Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan chaired a high-level review meeting in Bhubaneswar, directing engineers to complete patchwork on major roads by September 20 and begin full restoration of severely damaged stretches from October 2.

The minister emphasised the importance of durable and visually appealing roads, urging newly appointed engineers to prioritise long-term infrastructure solutions. A dedicated policy for road maintenance and accountability is also in development.

To accelerate progress, engineers have been instructed to conduct field visits and submit detailed condition reports within two days.

The meeting also addressed coordination challenges between agencies like BMC, IDCO, OPTCL, and WATCO, which often carry out utility work without prior approval, leading to road damage.

Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh called for synchronised planning to prevent such disruptions.

The review was attended by MLAs, mayors of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, senior officials from urban departments, and top engineers, signaling a unified push toward infrastructure readiness before the festive rush.