By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 10, 2015 : The centre will invest more than Rs 35,000 crore for the development and construction of National Highways in Odisha and the projects worth Rs 10,000 crore will begin by the end of this year, union minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari on Friday said here.

The projects for the remaining amount would begin from next year.

“I have directed the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) officials to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed project works”, Gadkari said.

Addressing a press conference, the minister also announced to accord National Highway [NH] status to 2000 kilometer of state highways and to link the NH to the districts which have no NH.

“We have decided to link NH to Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur on priority. Besides, a decision has been taken to construct 12 NH bypasses”, he added.

Earlier on Thursday, Gadkari had announced to accord National High Way status to the coastal road connecting Gopalpur in south Odisha with Digha in West Bengal and 40-km long the coastal road coastal road connecting Odisha with West Bengal.

Stressing on the importance of inland water transport, the minister said his ministry has also decided to link five major rivers, Baitarani, Birupa, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga in the state to facilitate inter-state waterway transport.

“IIT, Gauhati has been asked to do a study on hydrology of the proposed project”, he informed.

Water ports will be constructed to facilitate inland water transport. The minister said, he has offered chief minister Naveen Patnaik to float a separate corporation where the centre can have 100% equity to develop inland water transport.

Regretting that the share of inland water transport is a meager 3% against China’s share of 47%, Gadkari said transport in river would bring down the cost drastically.

Dredging of rivers would help control flood and the sand can be utilized for road construction and other purpose, he added.

The minister further said the government has booked 95 lakh tons of cement for the purpose. As many as 37 cement manufacturing companies and 101 factories have offered to supply the cement at the rate of Rs 120 to Rs 140, he said, adding this would help reducing cost of construction besides quality roads.

The minister also offered the chief minister to lift the cement for its use for various development projects.