Unauthorized land encroachment by slum-dwellers has put brakes on the 9 km-long coastal road project in Paradip.With the proposed project being a vital road connectivity route to the industrial hub like oil refinery project and the proposed Posco Steel Project, a harried administration has made up its mind to throw out the encroachers from the occupied land. The coastal road would also come in handy for cargo transportation activity to the Paradip Port.
The Rs. 4.8-crore coastal road has hit a roadblock as the Sandhakuda slum on the outskirts of Paradip town has turned out to be a stumbling block for the project.
The project, besides serving the purpose of hassle-free road connectivity, would also act as a surge protection wall. Paradip and adjoining areas encounter ingress of tidal waves. So the multi-purpose road project was the much-felt need of the Port Town. It would act as a protective barrier and safety ring against tidal surge.
“The project has failed to take off as there was delay in forest and environment clearance to it. Besides, sprouting up of unauthorized settlement over the earmarked road route has led to its hold up”, said Mr. Surajit Das, Additional District Magistrate, Paradip.
As the said road project has become imperative for the Paradip Oil Refinery Project, the project work is being expeditiously undertaken shortly after clearance of encroachment hurdles. Portion of the project stretching from Hanuman temple to Sandhakuda colony is already complete. However, a major portion of it is lying incomplete due to encroachment.
Families numbering 144 would be driven out from the encroached territory. They have been served eviction notices. In the event of they refusing to voluntarily vacate the land, forcible eviction would be undertaken with due procedures of law, said officials.
The construction of coastal road-cum-sea surge protection wall would come in handy for transportation of over dimensional consignment and pet coke transportation after commissioning of the refinery.
The Paradip Refinery Project is considered to be the nucleus project of the ambitious Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIR) which has been planned around this port city.
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