Bhubaneswar: Sambalpur MP and former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday urged Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari to take up a series of highway infrastructure projects in western Odisha, including six-laning of the Sambalpur-Cuttack stretch of NH-55, construction of four underpasses and a flyover near Sambalpur City railway station.In a letter to Gadkari, Pradhan sought the ministry’s intervention to improve connectivity, ease traffic congestion and enhance road safety in the Sambalpur parliamentary constituency and adjoining areas amid growing industrial, mining and commercial activity.Highlighting the importance of the Sambalpur-Angul-Cuttack corridor, Pradhan said the highway serves as a key link between western Odisha and the state’s major industrial, commercial and urban centres. With traffic volumes rising steadily due to increased movement of passenger vehicles, freight carriers and industry-related transport, he requested that the existing four-lane highway be upgraded to six lanes.He also proposed construction of two-lane service roads on both sides of the highway, saying the move would facilitate smoother local movement and help reduce accidents.Pradhan further raised concerns over road safety on the Angul-Sambalpur section of NH-55, where heavy movement of mineral-laden and commercial vehicles has raised risk of accident for residents and pedestrians. He sought immediate administrative and financial approval for four underpasses proposed by NHAI’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Sambalpur, at Jindal Road, Jarapada, Jerang and Charmal.The MP also drew attention to growing congestion near Sambalpur City railway station on NH-53. He said the large number of railway passengers crossing the national highway every day creates traffic bottlenecks and has led to the junction being identified as a potential accident black spot.To address the issue, Pradhan requested early approval and execution of a flyover project at the railway station square to ensure safer movement of pedestrians and vehicles.He said prioritising the proposed projects would strengthen highway infrastructure in western Odisha, improve connectivity between eastern and western parts of the state and support the region’s industrial and economic growth. Pradhan expressed hope that the ministry and National Highways Authority of India would take up the proposals on priority.