Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday sought intervention of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for completion of Bhubaneswar-Puri national highway.

In a letter to Gadkari, he said the four lane road from Bhubaneswar to Puri (NH-203) needs to be completed citing that the road is extremely important from the point of view of tourism as it connects the state capital with the holy city of Lord Jagannath.

The project was earlier envisaged for completion before Nabakalebara Festival in July 2015.

Noting more than 70 percent of the work was completed and inauguration of the road was also done on July 9, 2015 before the Rath Yatra and toll collection has also been continuing from mid-October with full administrative support from the state, he said the remaining work was not being done.

“It is observed that the balance works of Chandanpur ROB (road over-bridge) and Puri bypass have not been resumed after the Rath Yatra causing traffic inconvenience and public discontentment. Under the circumstances, I request your personal intervention,” said Patnaik.