New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Jan 7: Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP, Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday called on Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and urged him to construct an alternative national highway linking Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, citing its importance for Odisha’s industrial and regional development.

ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ଠାରୁ ଝାରସୁଗୁଡ଼ା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଏକ ବୈକଳ୍ପିକ ଜାତୀୟ ରାଜପଥ ନିର୍ମାଣ କରିବା ପାଇଁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସଡ଼କ ପରିବହନ ଓ ରାଜପଥ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @nitin_gadkari ଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍ କରି ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲି । ଏହି ଜାତୀୟ ରାଜପଥ ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ଓ ଝାରସୁଗୁଡ଼ାକୁ ସଂଯୋଗ କରିବା ସହ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶିଳ୍ପ ଓ ଆଞ୍ଚଳିକ ବିକାଶ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଏକ ମାଇଲଖୁଣ୍ଟ ହେବ । pic.twitter.com/wW9cYC2j5Q

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) January 7, 2026

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pradhan said the proposed highway would not only improve connectivity between the two western Odisha districts but also serve as a milestone in strengthening the state’s economic backbone. Sambalpur and Jharsuguda are widely regarded as pivotal hubs for Odisha’s industrial growth, housing coalfields, power plants, and emerging manufacturing clusters.

Pradhan emphasized that enhanced road infrastructure would accelerate industrialisation, create new employment opportunities, and bring transformative changes to trade and commerce in the region. He added that the project aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Purvodaya vision, which prioritises infrastructure development in eastern India to unlock its economic potential.

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The Sambalpur–Jharsuguda corridor has long been considered vital for improving logistics efficiency, reducing travel time, and supporting industries dependent on coal and mineral transport. The proposed highway is expected to ease traffic congestion, provide faster access to industrial zones, and improve socio-economic conditions for local communities.

Pradhan’s appeal underscores the growing demand for robust infrastructure in western Odisha, where industrial expansion has heightened the need for reliable connectivity. If approved, the project could mark a significant step toward balanced regional development and reinforce Odisha’s role as a key contributor to India’s industrial growth.