Rayagada, Nov 12: A road blockade by residents of several villages near Kereda in Odisha’s Rayagada district disrupted traffic on the Ranchi-Vijayawada corridor on Thursday, as protesters demanded the construction of a proper road in their area.
Hundreds of villagers from five to six villages took to the highway, bringing traffic movement towards neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to a halt. The protest left commuters stranded and triggered inconvenience for travellers using the busy inter-state route.
The protesters said they had been seeking a permanent road for nearly a decade, but their repeated appeals had not resulted in a solution. Frustrated by the prolonged delay, they resorted to blocking the corridor to press the administration for immediate intervention.
Administration steps in to address villagers’ concerns
Following information about the blockade, Additional Block Development Officer (ABDO) Kalicharan Nayak reached the protest site and held discussions with the villagers.
During the talks, the block administration assured the protesters that immediate steps would be taken to repair the damaged road. Officials also informed them that the Rural Development Department would take up construction of a permanent road in January.
Nayak said a tender had already been floated for the proposed road project. He added that construction work was expected to begin by January 15, after the tender process was completed.
Protest withdrawn after assurance
The assurance from the administration prompted the villagers to call off their agitation and lift the blockade. Traffic movement towards Andhra Pradesh subsequently returned to normal.
A protester said residents had been demanding basic road connectivity for years and warned that they would continue their agitation if their concerns remained unaddressed.
The villagers expressed hope that the administration would follow through on its commitment and ensure that the long-pending road project moves ahead without further delay.
The immediate repair assurance and the proposed January construction timeline have raised expectations among residents, who say reliable road connectivity is essential for the daily movement of people in the area.
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