Odisha: Construction Of Rs 24,000 Crore Coastal Highway And Rs 6000 Crore Capital Region Ring Road To Begin Soon

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Wednesday (24 July) that construction will soon begin on two major national highway projects in Odisha — The 'Coastal Highway' and the 'Capital Region Ring Road.'

The 413 km long, four-lane Coastal Highway will be constructed in three sections — from Rameswar to Ratanpur, Ratanpur to Digha, and Jamujhadi to Dhamra. The project, part of the Bharatmala initiative, will cost Rs 23,882 crore. Pradhan mentioned that the detailed project report (DPR) and related approvals are nearing completion.

"Construction of the Coastal Highway will start soon. It will be a game-changer for the social and economic development of eastern India, including Odisha, towards the realisation of the PM’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision. There will be a new sunrise in Odisha in the field of roadways,” Pradhan stated.

Purvodaya plan is touted for the all-round development of five states in the eastern region, including Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

Regarding the Capital Region Ring Road project, Pradhan highlighted the Modi government's emphasis on road infrastructure and transit. The 111 km-long project approved under Bharatmala Pariyojana is estimated to cost Rs 6,092 crore.

The proposed six-lane ring road project connecting Khurda, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will be a milestone in Odisha’s communication sector under the Purvoday scheme, reports The New Indian Express.

While the Coastal Highway project has faced delays with tenders being cancelled, and the Capital Region Ring Road project has seen limited progress, Pradhan's announcement marks a renewed push for these critical infrastructure developments in the state.