Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7 (UDN): With the monsoon often triggering landslides and disrupting connectivity in Odisha’s hilly regions, the state government has initiated measures to strengthen vulnerable rural roads against such disasters.
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The Rural Development Department has directed field engineers to identify roads that are prone to landslides and slope failures and prepare detailed mitigation proposals for funding under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) 2026-27.
The directive has been issued to engineering divisions across several hilly districts, including Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Mohana, Gunupur, Jeypore and Sunabeda, where heavy rainfall frequently damages road infrastructure during the southwest monsoon.
According to the government, priority should be given to roads that are repeatedly affected by landslides, as these routes serve as critical links for remote villages. Damage to such roads often isolates habitations, disrupts transportation and emergency services, and affects the movement of essential supplies.
Officials have been asked to design projects that improve the long-term resilience of these roads with minimal maintenance requirements. The proposals are expected to include engineering measures such as retaining walls, slope stabilisation, improved drainage systems, rockfall protection, stone pitching and bio-engineering solutions, depending on local terrain and technical requirements.
The government has instructed the concerned engineers to submit technically feasible proposals in the prescribed format through their respective Chief Construction Engineers within seven days. After scrutiny, the proposals will be forwarded for financial assistance under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund.
The initiative is aimed at building safer and more resilient road infrastructure in Odisha’s vulnerable hill regions, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for local communities even during extreme weather events.
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