Former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan participated in a mass cleanliness drive on Monday under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s completion of 25 years in public service. Puri MP Sambit Patra also accompanied Pradhan during the programme.
The campaign is being conducted across the country from September 17 to October 17, with the objective of extending the spirit of public service associated with Modi’s 25 years in public life to different sections of society. Activities under the initiative include cleanliness drives, public outreach programmes and camps aimed at delivering government services to citizens.
Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Promotes Public Service and Community Participation
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan seeks to encourage public participation in activities focused on cleanliness, service and community welfare. Programmes are being organised in different parts of the country to connect government initiatives with citizens and address local needs.
In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a multipurpose camp organised under the campaign on Saturday at Kshatriya Chetna Manch on Tapovan Road in Dehradun.
During his visit, Dhami inspected stalls set up by various government departments and distributed agricultural equipment, mushroom mini-kits, and Mahalakshmi and Kishori kits provided by the Women and Child Development Department to beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure that public grievances received during these camps are resolved promptly. He emphasised that citizens should be informed about the process and expected timeline whenever a complaint requires additional time for resolution.
Dhami said officials must ensure that people are not compelled to make repeated visits to government offices to get their work completed.
Dharmendra Pradhan Seeks Six-Lane Upgrade of Sambalpur-Angul-Cuttack Highway
Alongside his participation in the cleanliness campaign, Pradhan has raised several infrastructure and road-safety concerns affecting Sambalpur and adjoining regions of Odisha.
Earlier last week, the Sambalpur MP wrote to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking urgent intervention in key National Highway projects. The letter highlighted the need to strengthen regional connectivity and improve road safety amid rapid industrial and economic growth in western Odisha.
One of the major proposals involves upgrading the existing four-lane Sambalpur-Angul-Cuttack corridor to six lanes. Pradhan has also sought the construction of two-lane service roads on both sides of the highway to facilitate local traffic and improve access for communities located along the route.
The proposed expansion is intended to address increasing traffic movement and improve connectivity across an economically important region.
Four Underpasses Proposed on NH-55 to Improve Road Safety
Pradhan has also requested priority approval for four underpasses proposed by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Sambalpur, on National Highway 55.
The proposed underpasses are located at Jindal Road, Jarapada, Jeranga and Charmal along the NH-55 corridor.
The Angul-Sambalpur section of the highway experiences significant movement of heavy commercial and mining vehicles. At the same time, local commuters and pedestrians use the road for everyday travel, creating road-safety challenges.
Dedicated crossing infrastructure could help separate local movement from high-volume traffic, reduce potential conflict points and improve safety for pedestrians and other road users.
Pradhan has urged the authorities to prioritise the proposals in view of the increasing movement of industrial and mining traffic across the region.
Flyover at Sambalpur City Railway Station Square Also Sought
Another major proposal concerns the construction of a flyover at Sambalpur City Railway Station Square on National Highway 53.
Pradhan identified the location as a significant road-safety concern, pointing out that railway passengers frequently have to cross the busy highway at road level amid regular vehicular movement.
The proposed flyover is intended to improve safety for railway passengers and facilitate smoother traffic movement at the junction.
The MP has requested Gadkari to direct officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide timely administrative and financial approvals for the proposed projects.
Focus on Infrastructure Development and Public Grievance Redressal
The developments highlight two parallel aspects of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan: public participation in community-oriented activities and attention to local infrastructure and public-service requirements.
While the cleanliness drive aims to promote the spirit of service, the road projects raised by Pradhan focus on connectivity, pedestrian safety and the transportation requirements of western Odisha.
In Uttarakhand, the multipurpose camp under the same campaign has focused on distributing assistance to beneficiaries and improving the handling of public grievances.
The proposed highway upgrades, underpasses and flyover in Odisha will require the relevant authorities to examine the proposals and provide the necessary approvals before implementation.
As the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan continues until October 17, programmes across different states are expected to remain focused on public outreach, community participation and the delivery of government services.
