Delhi,Dec 9: With a major impetus to Odisha road infra,the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on Tuesday approved road development projects worth Rs 44,771 crore for the 2025–26 financial year.
The projects include five National Highway projects, five State Highway projects, and several initiatives under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), informed Minister for Works, Law and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan on Tuesday.
Harichandan said, a vivid discussion on the Odisha road infras was held in New Delhi with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today. Meanwhile, it was revealed that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 30,000 crore for National Highway expansion and upgradation, while Rs 13,000 crore has been allocated for State Highway projects.
Significantly, Bhubaneswar-Paradip high-speed Greenfield corridor will be built from the sanctioned funds.
According to sources, the Bhubaneswar–Puri road will be developed into an 8-lane highway with upgrading the 140 km Tangi–Puintola–Ichhapuram stretch into 6 lanes, expanding the 400 km Rourkela–Bada Bil–Paradip via Duburi corridor into 8 lanes, and widening the 68 km Pallahara–Pitiri stretch under NH-149 into 4 lanes.
In addition, Rs 1,500 crore has been sanctioned under the CRIF scheme, fulfilling commitments made during the Indian Road Congress held in Bhubaneswar recently.
The Centre has also approved Rs 13,141 crore for State Highway projects. The projects include widening the Barpali–Balangir, Kesinga–Bhawanipatna–Junagarh, Balangir–Nayagarh, Hinjilikatu Bypass, and Mohana–Paralakhemundi roads, alongside upgrades on NH-26.
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