Sambalpur: When Will the MG Road (Ring Road) Expansion Happen?
Dream of 6-Lane Road Remains Unfulfilled; Tourism Faces Obstruction
Sambalpur: A riverfront development project similar to those in Sabarmati, Kashi, and Varanasi is in the works in Sambalpur. The estimated budget of ₹50 crore includes parks, walkways, open gyms, amphitheaters, and an Aarti Ghat. The majority of the work on the Samaleswari Project has been completed, and these initiatives are aimed at boosting tourism. However, some argue that the necessary road infrastructure has not been prioritized for these developments. The long-planned expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi (Ring Road) has been halted in the middle, leaving the district administration and Sambalpur Municipal Corporation unsure of its status. According to reports, the project is stalled due to encroachment clearance issues.
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Funds Approved, But Work Remains Incomplete
Funds were approved in April of last year to expand Cuttack Singh Road into a 6-lane road to alleviate the city’s traffic problems. A similar proposal to widen the MG Road to four lanes was made earlier. However, the plan remained limited to dividing the old road with a divider, with no major expansion. Instead of removing encroachments, the then-District Collector built the road to fit the available space, resulting in inconsistencies in which some areas remained narrow while others expanded. Despite the launch of the Samaleswari Project at the Samaleswari Temple, which draws thousands of devotees, the MG Road connecting the temple remains narrow, raising concerns about potential traffic congestion. As a result, there is growing demand to widen the road to 4 lanes.
Officials Aware, Yet Unresponsive
A senior official who was previously involved in the project stated that the road’s expansion is critical for Sambalpur. If not widened like Cuttack, it will cause major problems in the future. Despite widespread awareness, district officials have yet to take the necessary actions, preferring to avoid controversies. In fact, a private firm had already conducted a survey on the expansion. However, there appears to be a lack of will to carry out the project. Attempts to contact the Sambalpur District Collector and the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner yielded no results.
