Odisha Cabinet Approves Rs 1,000 Crore Disaster-Resilient Road Plan To Improve Emergency Access

The Odisha government on Wednesday (7 May) evening approved eight significant proposals, including a Rs 1,000 crore scheme aimed at constructing 500 km of disaster-resilient roads, reported PTI.

The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the objective of the scheme is to build resilient road infrastructure to ensure minimal disruption in connectivity during and after disasters, enabling unhindered access to emergency operational services in disaster-affected areas of the state.

He added, these roads will be durable enough to withstand damage due to disasters with minimum maintenance. The roads will serve as a lifeline in disaster-prone areas.

The scheme will be implemented over five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, with an annual allocation of Rs 200 crore.

The cabinet also approved a new initiative titled 'Constituency-wise Allocation' (CWA) aimed at the construction and improvement of rural development roads across 142 Assembly constituencies. With an outlay of Rs 426 crore, the scheme will span three years from 2024-25 to 2026-27.

Another significant decision was the approval of the ‘Mukhyamantri Bus Seva’ (MBS) scheme, which seeks to deliver safe, reliable and affordable public transport.

The government will provide 50 per cent concession in ticket fares in both non-AC and AC bus services for women, transgender, students, persons with disability (PwDs) and senior citizens, Ahuja said.

A total budget of Rs 3,278 crore has been allocated for the scheme for a period of three years.

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