Bhubaneswar: An ambitious plan to expand the National Highway 316 connecting Bhubaneswar and Puri is moving forward, following a high-level meeting led by Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, the Principal Secretary of the Works Department, at the Lok Seva Bhawan today. Chairing the session in the third-floor conference hall, Shri Singh guided detailed discussions on the proposed architectural layout and the long-term utility of this vital transit corridor.
During the session, Principal Secretary Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh emphasized the critical need for inter-departmental cooperation to successfully execute the development layout. He noted that the blueprint for the Puri-Bhubaneswar highway road expansion was designed under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, and is being closely supervised by Works Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan.
The core agenda of the meeting involved a detailed review of widening the 67-kilometer stretch of the national highway from four lanes to six lanes. The plan also incorporates the construction of dedicated two-lane service roads on both sides of the highway. A major highlight of the project is a proposed 11-kilometer, six-lane elevated corridor stretching from Saptasati Chhak to Lingipur Chhak, complemented by three-lane service roads on either side. Shri Singh pointed out that this specific addition will significantly alleviate urban traffic congestion inside Bhubaneswar and sharply reduce travel time between the two major cities.
Addressing regional challenges, Top Mandarin, Shri Singh highlighted that because the Bhubaneswar and Puri regions are highly prone to cyclones, the blueprint includes a dedicated underground utility corridor. This specialized corridor will safely house power cables, telephone lines, internet wires, water pipelines, and gas connections to ensure uninterrupted services during severe weather events. To elevate the traveler experience, the layout also integrates well-spaced wayside amenities along the highway route for tourists and daily commuters.
Looking ahead, the Principal Secretary Works directed officials to ensure the blueprint accommodates future infrastructure growth, including the proposed Puri international airport, the upcoming coastal highway project, and rapid population expansion. Shri Singh mandated the preparation of a top-tier final design that incorporates elevated corridors, flyovers, and vehicular underpasses (VUPs) at critical traffic intersections.
The coordination meeting saw the participation of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Shri Chanchal Rana, Works Department EIC and Special Secretary Engineer L.K. Padhi, EIC Civil Engineer Satyabrata Behera, Joint Secretary Dipti Ranjan Behera, and Deputy Secretary Engineer Sundar Madhab Padhi. Chief Engineer of National Highways Engineer Narayan Patel was also in attendance, alongside senior representatives from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), TPCODL, the Department of Forest and Environment, WATCO, and OPTCL.