Infrastructure

For economic development of any state, industrialization plays a vital role. But for creating a viable atmosphere for industries and corporate houses a sound and smooth infrastructure becomes top priority for the government. Keeping that sentiment in view the government of Orissa since few years has consistently tried to provide a fine tuned industry and investment friendly infrastructure. In that direction the government is becoming successful which is seen through a lot of major changes and improvements occurred in the fields of infrastructure. The most important agenda of government of Orissa has become providing the state best connectivity through roads, rail, sea, and air.

Roads

Roads are considered the most important component of infrastructure, to which nation’s economy either directly or indirectly connected. Constructing high quality roads of international standard has come to reality in the soil of Orissa because of the potential will of the Government of Orissa. The State is connected to other neighboring states like west Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, through all weather high standard roads. Major roads of the state are covered by Pradhan Mantri Bharat Jodo Pari Yojana (PMBJP). The approaching roads to the main roads have qualitatively improved. In recent years the internal roads connecting villages, hamlets have become R.C.C roads. The roads connecting to Gram Panchayat Road and Taluka (Block) Road have also been constructed through R.C.C. In recent days attempts have been made for constructing roads through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Facts And Figures About Roads Of Orissa

1. Total road length (As on 31.03.03): 238034 kms.
2. National Highway: 12nos (3193 kms.)
3. State Highway: 5014 kms.
4. State Express Highway: 30 kms.
5. Major District Roads (MDR): 3288 kms.
6. Other District Roads (ODR): 6138 kms.
7. Classified Village Roads (CVR): 3338 kms.
8. Village Roads: 25072 kms.
9. Panchayat Samiti Roads: 20324 kms.
10. G.P Roads: 139942 kms.
11. Forest Roads: 7242 kms.
12. Urban Roads: 18132 kms.
13. Railway Route (as on 31.03.03): 2401 kms.
14. Broad Gauge 2311 km: Coastline proposed 574 kms.
15. Irrigation Roads: 6277 kms.
16. GRIDCO Roads: 88 kms.
17. Railway length per thousand sq.km: 15.04 kms.
18. Goods Vehicle (as on 31. 03.03): 84268
19. Public, Private Buses: 4946
20. Car, Jeep, Taxi: 66691
21. Auto Rickshaws: 11310
22. Scooters & Mopeds: 943178
23. Others: 10667
24. No. of Post Offices: 8159 (Rural 7556, Urban 603)

Rails

Orissa is well-connected with the national rail network. It has rail lines of 2287km, including 91km of narrow gauge. The Orissa railway network is a part of the East Coast Railway, which is the largest carrier of commercial load in both freight as well as passenger traffic in the country.

Orissa is a link between Eastern and Western India through the railway network of South- Eastern and East-Coast Railways.

With the commissioning of the Talcher-Sambalpur railway line, a vital link has been established between Coastal and Western Orissa.

While construction of the Koraput-Rayagada line has been completed, work on the Daitari-Banspani (expected completion is by 2006) and Khurda Road- Bolangir railway links are in progress
Development of Haridaspur – Paradeep and Angul-Duburi- Sukinda Road rail links, currently being planned, will connect the resource base to the industries.

The government of Orissa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited for the Haridaspur-Paradeep link. The project cost is expected to be Rs.540crore and is expected to be complete by 2008. Out of the total of 942 acres, 770 acres have already been handed over to the railways. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited will also take up the Angul- Duburi- Sukinda Road link under PPP, estimated to cost around Rs.344 crore.

Ports

Orissa is endowed with a long coast line of 480 kms. along the Bay of Bengal interspersed with numerous ports like Dhamra (Chand Bali), Bahabalpur etc. Pradeep is the deepest port in India and is the main entry/ exit point for sea borne trade in Eastern India, catering particularly to Orissa, Bihar, Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. It is emerging as a primer port of the country. The cargo profile of the port includes iron ore, coal, other minerals, food grains, petroleum products etc. A Modern fishing harbour has recently been commissioned at Paradeep.

The port handles up to 12mtrs. draught and has a mechanized iron ore berth in addition to other cargo berths, 4 wharf cranes of 13.2mt capacity is 500 tone slip way and requisite cargo handling and storage facilities. The port has its own railway system and connected to East Coast Railways. It is also connected to NH5 A and State Highway 42.

The Gopalpur Port of Ganjam district is a fair weather sea port with a current handling capacity of 2000-2500 tone per day. The port is ear marked for conversion to an on weather deep water port with augmented and fully mechanized. Cargo handling capacity and additional services for which a MOU has bee signed and the project is slated to be fully operational soon.

Development of small ports and satellite ports will be the thrust area in the state. Some of the developmental possibilities have been identified as below:

Name of the Port Locations Districts
1. Gopalpur Ganjam
2. Bahuda Muhan (Sonepur) Ganjam
3. Palur Ganjam
4. Baliharchandi Puri
5. Astarang Puri
6. Nuanai Puri
7. Mangala Ghat Puri
8. Jatadhar Muhan Jagatsinghpur
9. Barunei Muhan Kendrapada
10. Dhamra Bhadrak
11. Chudamani Bhadrak
12. Inchuri Balasore
13. Chandipur Balasore
14. Bahabalpur Balasore
15. Subarnarekha mouth (Kirtania) Balasore

Inland Waterways

Historically the river-ways of the state have a long tradition of cargo traffic. In fact, the building materials for the famous temples at Puri and Konark had been transported by the inland waterways. The Brahmani and Mahandi rivers were used for coal barges in the past. A study has been commissioned to examine the commercial viability of reviving this traditional mode of inland transportation and this may throw up many possibilities in the future.

Social Infrastructure

Housing

The last two year have witnessed construction of large number of apartments by the private real estate builders in the major cities of Orissa i.e. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Angul, Sambalpur etc. Many luxurious bunglows and offices of renowned corporate houses have come up in Orissa.

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities have improved tremendously in recent years. The health system in the state is primarily run by state owned hospital. Apart from that, initiatives of private parties have helped for opening of modernized clinics, nursing homes, and diagnostic centers.

Reputed hospitals of India have started their operation and providing best medical support. Orissa has become a good medical service provider in the eastern region. There are three Government medical colleges and one private medical college in Orissa which provide best medical facilities. L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Ayush Hospital, Care Hospital, Hemalata Hospital, Panda Medical Centre for Cancer, Kalinga Hospital, Appolo Clinic, are some of the renowned names in the medical sector operating in Orissa.

(Source: http://india.gov.in)