Dharmendra Pradhan urges infrastructure upgrades for NH-49 safety

Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has written to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari requesting urgent structural interventions to improve road safety and traffic flow on National Highway 49 in Odisha’s Deogarh district.

Pradhan highlighted the dangers caused by the mixing of high-speed inter-state freight and passenger traffic with local commuters. To address these issues, he proposed three primary solutions:

First, at the Y-junction near Ambedkar Chowk at the Deogarh Bypass, Pradhan requested an elevated flyover, a dedicated service road, and improved highway lighting to protect residents accessing the Collectorate, New Bus Stand, and Women’s College.

Second, at the Birsamunda intersection where State Highway 21 meets NH-49, he called for a vehicular underpass and a slip road to prevent collisions between local and speeding vehicles.

Third, to protect pedestrians in rapidly urbanizing areas such as Kola, Kandal, and Tilaivani, he recommended the construction of service roads with drainage, separate guard rails, and enhanced lighting to separate local traffic from through traffic.