Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is planning to set up wayside amenity centres at every 50 kms along the National Highways, Expressways, State Highways and other major roads to improve travel experience. The proposal was discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Thursday.
The initiative is intended to provide essential facilities to long-distance travellers, including truck drivers, bus passengers and motorists, while also contributing to safer and more comfortable road travel.
The proposed wayside amenity centres will feature separate toilets for men and women, EV charging stations, fuel outlets, food courts and rest areas. These facilities are expected to offer convenient stopover points for commuters travelling across the state.
During the meeting, it was proposed that the centres should be developed at intervals of approximately 50 km across the State’s major road network. The government believes the project will improve road safety by encouraging drivers to take adequate rest breaks during long journeys while also enhancing overall travel convenience.
The government is planning to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) for setting up of the wayside amenity centres. Under the proposed arrangement, the government will provide the required land, while the OMCs will operate and maintain the facilities.
The initiative reflects the state’s focus on developing modern road infrastructure and creating safer, more convenient travel corridors for commuters and commercial vehicle operators across Odisha, said an official.
At present, Odisha has 68 wayside amenity centres, which were renovated recently. Of the 68 centres, 18 had been constructed by the Tourism department, while the rest were set up by the Works department. However, due to lack of maintenance, a majority of them lay in a dilapidated condition, while some stood abandoned.