Dharmendra Pradhan Pushes for Rairakhol Bypass to Ease Congestion

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the central government to sanction the construction of a bypass around Rairakhol, arguing that the project would significantly ease traffic congestion and improve road safety for residents.

In a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Pradhan drew attention to a formal representation from Rairakhol residents, which is supported by the local Bar Association, the Truck Owners Association, the Senior Citizen Forum and local journalists. The representatives have called for a bypass to divert heavy through-traffic away from the town centre and the narrow roads that are ill-suited for highway volumes.

Rairakhol bypass to relieve town congestion

Pradhan noted that National Highway-55 is among the busiest highways in the region, carrying substantial commercial and passenger traffic. At the same time, Rairakhol has seen rapid infrastructure expansion with the establishment of offices and institutions such as the Sub-Divisional Office, the Sub-Divisional Hospital and Bhima Bhoi Degree College. The increased public movement during office hours has compounded congestion on roads that were not designed for sustained heavy vehicle use.

The minister highlighted that heavy vehicles currently pass through narrow town roads, creating frequent bottlenecks and elevating the risk of road accidents. Such conditions have disrupted access for students, patients and senior citizens, and have caused considerable inconvenience to daily commuters and local businesses.

Emphasising the larger public interest, Pradhan requested Gadkari’s personal intervention and urged that the ministry direct the concerned authorities to expedite detailed project reports and clearance procedures for a bypass around Rairakhol town. The appeal underlined the need to ensure safer commuting and to protect vulnerable road users who are particularly affected during peak hours.

Local stakeholders say a bypass would not only reduce congestion but also support smoother movement of goods along NH-55, improving logistics efficiency for truck operators while restoring quieter, safer streets within the town. The proposal has gained traction among community groups who have pressed for swift action from both state and central agencies to mitigate mounting traffic pressures.

Should the ministry approve the project, the next steps would include surveys, alignment finalisation and land acquisition procedures, followed by construction. Pradhan’s letter requests that these processes be prioritised and coordinated to limit disruption and deliver timely relief to Rairakhol residents.

With traffic safety and public convenience at stake, authorities will now consider the representation alongside technical assessments to determine the feasibility and timeline for the proposed bypass. If implemented, the project could set a precedent for similar interventions in other towns along heavily used national highways.