Odisha Seeks Central Support for Major Road Development Projects Worth ₹41,580 Crore
Odisha's Call for Infrastructure Investment
Bhubaneswar: The government of Odisha has formally requested assistance from the central government for the enhancement of roads and National Highways (NHs) projects, which require an investment of ₹41,580 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida made this appeal during a pre-budget consultation meeting with finance ministers from various states and union territories, which was led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Saturday.
This meeting aimed to gather input from states and union territories for the upcoming Union Budget for 2026–27. Parida presented a written memorandum on behalf of the Odisha government, outlining several significant issues and proposals for the Union Finance Minister's consideration.
During the discussions, the Deputy Chief Minister also requested support from the central government under the ambitious 'Purvodaya' initiative, which aims to foster an environment conducive to critical infrastructure development, aligning with the vision of 'Viksit Odisha for Viksit Bharat'.
Additionally, she advocated for incentives for fiscally responsible states and an increase in allocations under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for the fiscal year 2026–27.
The state also called for a revision of ration cost norms under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) to guarantee a steady supply of nutritious food to beneficiaries.
To alleviate fiscal burdens on state finances, Parida urged the Union Finance Minister to enhance the central share under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and broaden beneficiary coverage under social pension schemes.
Moreover, the Deputy Chief Minister sought central government backing for transforming key tourism sites in Odisha into prominent tourism hubs on both national and international stages.
The Odisha government has also requested support for paddy procurement, the expansion of storage facilities, timely funding for ongoing projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and substantial capital investment for urban development in the state.
An official stated that the Union Finance Minister assured that the requests and suggestions put forth by the state government would be carefully considered.