Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has instructed officials to accelerate work on 68 ongoing Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) projects supported by NABARD, with a focus on completing them at the earliest.
A review meeting chaired by Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh at Lok Seva Bhawan assessed the progress of the projects and examined challenges delaying construction.
Of the 192 RIDF projects approved across Odisha, 124 have already been completed. The remaining 68 include 44 bridge projects and 24 road projects.
Officials identified several hurdles, including land acquisition, forest land diversion and shifting of utilities. Singh directed concerned departments to resolve these issues on priority and ensure faster execution.
He said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan have repeatedly emphasised timely completion of infrastructure and public welfare projects.
Senior officials from the Works Department, including engineers, financial advisers and administrative officers, attended the review meeting.
The government’s renewed push is expected to improve rural connectivity, strengthen transportation infrastructure and provide better access to essential services in areas covered by the pending projects.