Centre Clears Rs 44,771 Cr Road Projects to Upgrade Odisha

• The Centre approved ₹44,771 crore for road projects in Odisha, including national and state highway improvements for 2025-26
• Key projects include widening the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway, Tangi-Puintola-Ichchapuram road, and Rourkela-Barbil-Paradip road
• A proposed greenfield road between Bhubaneswar and Paradip was discussed, with Gadkari requesting a revised project report

Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan reported that the Central Government allotted ₹44,771 crore for the implementation of road projects throughout Odisha including establishing a new roadway that will connect Bhubaneswar with Paradip.

 A total of 10 projects were approved by the Prithviraj Harichandan through his role as the Works Head in the State and will enhance the quality of both existing National Highways and State Highways.

Additionally, an increase in funding was granted to the following ten projects over a 3-year period to support five National Highway projects, five State Highway projects and ten other projects funded by the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) in the fiscal Year 2025-2026.

The National Highway Widening Project has been approved by the Central Government for a six-lane stretch between Bhubaneswar & Puri, together with the construction of a new 140 km road along the Tangi-Puintola-Ichchapuram route. Also approved was a new 400 km (approx) Rourkela-Barbil-Paradip highway through Duburi, along with a 68 km (approx) stretch from Pallahada to Pitiri (NH-149).

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The Harichandan Report has also confirmed that approximately ₹13,141 crore will be invested into five state highways for improvements and widening. There has also been talk about the construction of a new greenfield highway project linking Bhubaneswar to Paradip, which will take advantage of Paradip's potential as a manufacturing centre and its connection with the capital city.

The minister stated, “These include four-laning of a road between Barpali and Bolangir and Kesinga-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh road, Bolangir-Nayagarh stretch, Hinjilikatu bypass and four-laning of Berhampur-Kalusandhpur road and improvement of Parlakhemundi road from Mohana”.

The Union Transport Minister has indicated that he would support this project and has asked for the Odisha Government to submit an updated detailed project report (DPR) for endorsement.