New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has given its approval for a significant infrastructure package for Odisha, totaling ₹44,771 crore for the financial year 2025-26. This massive outlay covers five National Highway projects, five State Highway projects, and schemes under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
The approval follows a meeting in New Delhi today between Odisha’s Minister of Works, Law, and Excise, Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, and the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. Principal Secretary to the Works Department of the Odisha Government, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh presented details in the meeting.
Key among the National Highway projects is the ambitious widening of the Bhubaneswar-Puri road to 8 lanes. Additionally, the 140 km Tangi-Puintola-Ichchapuram road has been sanctioned for 6-lane widening.
The Central Government has also given its nod to the major expansion of the 400 km Rourkela-Badbil-Paradip via Duburi road to 8 lanes, and the 68 km Pallahada-Pitiri road under NH-149 will be widened to 4 lanes.
A sum of ₹13,141 crore has been approved for the improvement and widening of five State Highway projects. These include the 4-laning of the Barpali-Balangir road and Kesinga-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh road, the 4-laning of the Balangir-Nayagarh road, and the 4-laning of the Berhampur-Kaluzandhpur road alongside the Hinjilikitu bypass road. The package also includes the improvement of the Parlakhemundi road from Mohana and the widening of NH-26.
In a separate commitment made by the Minister of Road Transport and National Highways for the Indian Road Congress scheduled in Bhubaneswar from 7 to 10 November 2025, an additional ₹1,500 crore has been approved under the CRIF scheme.
Minister Shri Harichandan also informed the media that a successful discussion was held regarding the construction of a new green field road that will directly connect Bhubaneswar to Paradip. This new link is expected to be crucial for connecting the capital with the growing major port city of Paradip.
Special Secretary Shri L. K. Padhi, ADG, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Shri Atul Kumar and Shri Bipanesh Sharma, Member, National Highways Authority of India were present in the meeting.