Bhubaneswar: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced a significant boost to Odisha’s infrastructure, promising “America-like highways” for the state.
He unveiled 19 National Highway projects worth ₹4,137 crore, emphasizing their potential to transform connectivity and stimulate tourism.
Speaking at a function held at Baramunda Maidan here, Shri Gadkari highlighted the central government’s commitment to providing world-class infrastructure to Odisha.
“The Centre will provide world-class infrastructure to Odisha, and the people here will soon get America-like highways. The state has ports, minerals and forests. Road connectivity will boost its tourism potential,” he stated.
Shri Gadkari revealed that the Centre has undertaken highway projects worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore in Odisha, with ₹60,000 crore worth of projects already completed, another ₹60,000 crore underway, and ₹75,000 crore in the pipeline.
The mega event was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CMs Pravati Parida and KV Singh Deo, along with MPs, MLAs, and Ministers.
Responding to Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi’s demand, Union Minister Shri Gadkari confirmed the approval of the capital region ring road project. “We are waiting for the Union Cabinet’s nod. The ring road from Rameswaram in Khurda district to Tangi in Cuttack district will be executed at a cost of ₹7,000 crore,” he said.
Furthermore, Shri Gadkari announced the approval for widening the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway to six lanes at a cost of ₹1,200 crore, aiming to reduce travel time from 90 minutes to 45 minutes.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi proposed widening the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway to eight lanes with a service road, suggesting it would cater to the region’s needs for the next century. He also requested Union Minister Shri Gadkari to expedite the widening of the proposed coastal highway to four lanes.
Shri Gadkari also announced the construction of the second Ranchi-Sambalpur Corridor at a cost of ₹8,000 crore and assured that the Chandikhol–Paradip corridor will be completed by December 2026.
The Union Minister laid the foundation stones for 13 national highway projects worth ₹2,905 crore, which include new road construction and widening of existing roads in Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Nayagarh districts.
Additionally, he laid the foundation stones for four bridges worth ₹427 crore, spanning a combined length of 4.82 km, on the Berhampur-Gopalpur and Rourkela-Biramitrapur highways under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
Shri Gadkari also inaugurated the four-laning of the Talcher-Kamakhyanagar section of NH-149 and another section of NH-53, executed at a cost of ₹800 crore. He further inaugurated vehicle underpasses on NH-16 at Balikuda, Sikharpur, and Badachana.