New Coastal Highway Project Approved in Odisha to Boost Connectivity

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Approves Highway Construction

New Delhi, June 3: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for a new coastal highway project that will stretch from Rameshwar to Paradeep in Odisha. This initiative will be executed using the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).

The highway will be developed in two segments, totaling 160.18 kilometers, with an estimated investment of Rs 8,300.79 crore.

Once completed, the highway is expected to cut travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, ensuring safe and efficient connectivity for both passenger and freight transport.

Moreover, the project aims to significantly lower fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and vehicle operating costs, as stated in an official announcement.

This new coastal highway is part of the Golden Quadrilateral and will feature a six-lane design, passing through key urban areas such as Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.

The current NH-316 links Bhubaneswar to Puri and continues towards Satapada and Konark.

However, the existing road conditions along the Puri–Satapada and Puri–Konark routes are subpar, with about 40% of the area developed for ribbon construction and high local commuter traffic, which hampers efficient long-distance travel.

The proposed project will consist of a four-lane configuration from Rameshwar to Konark (Package-1) and a two-lane road with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep (Package-2), designed for a speed of 100 km/hour, thereby enhancing travel efficiency across the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur in Odisha.

Additionally, this project is set to improve regional mobility and foster socio-economic growth.

Aligned with the PM GatiShakti principles, the projects will connect nine Economic Nodes and five Logistic Nodes, positively influencing the country's Logistic Performance Index (LPI).