The Centre has approved road projects worth ₹44,771 crore in Odisha and has also sanctioned a proposal to construct a highway connecting Bhubaneswar and Paradip, a minister stated. Approvals have been granted for the enhancement of existing national and state highways, as well as for a proposed new project, Minister of Odisha Prithiviraj Harichandan said.
The announcement followed his meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday. Harichandan, head of the Works Department, stated that a total of ₹44,771 crore has been approved for five national highway projects, five state highway projects, and initiatives under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund in Odisha for the 2025-26 financial year.
The approved projects include the widening of the national highway connecting Bhubaneswar and Puri, as well as the 140 km Tangi-Puintola-Ichchapuram road. The Centre has also approved the widening of the 400-km Rourkela–Barbil–Paradip road via Duburi, as well as the 68-km Pallahada–Pitiri stretch of NH-149, the minister said. The minister also stated that ₹1,500 crore has been approved under the CRIF scheme. Additionally, ₹13,141 crore has been sanctioned for the widening and improvement of five state highway projects.
“These projects include the four-laning of the road between Barpali and Bolangir, the Kesinga-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh road, the Bolangir-Nayagarh stretch, the Hinjilikatu bypass, the four-laning of the Berhampur-Kalusandhpur road, and the improvement of the Parlakhemundi road from Mohana,” he said. Harichandan also noted that discussions took place regarding another Greenfield project between Bhubaneswar and Paradip.
