G. Udayagiri, November 1: After 47 days of closure, the Kalinga Ghati on the national highway has finally reopened, bringing immense relief and joy to commuters. The landslide that had blocked the route forced travelers to take a detour of 50 to 60 kilometers to reach Ganjam district and Bhubaneswar.
Early this morning, two-wheelers and four-wheelers were seen plying the route, marking the return of normalcy. The National Highways Authority cleared the debris from the road and removed sandbags from the sides, allowing light vehicles to pass. Although officials refrained from speaking on camera, they confirmed that heavy vehicles and buses will be permitted once guard walls are constructed on both sides of the road.
Commuters were seen happily riding bikes and cars to their destinations, with some small goods carriers also resuming operations. A trial test was conducted on Friday, following which a report was submitted to the District Collector.
The closure, which lasted over a month, had severely disrupted travel in Kandhamal district. With the reopening of Kalinga Ghati, traffic movement has returned to normal, much to the delight of locals and travelers.
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