Bhubaneswar, Aug 8: The much-awaited coastal highway from Rameshwar to Digha connecting seven coastal districts is likely to be delayed further as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) canceled tenders floated in three packages for the project.
The NHAI said the tenders have been canceled due to administrative reasons.
The coastal highway project stretch in Odisha comprises of two parts - Rameshwar to Ratanpur with a total length of about 176 km and Ratanpur to Digha with a length of about 170 km.
The stretch from Rameshwar to Ratanpur has been divided into four packages. Tenders were floated for three packages and one detailed project report (DPR) was under preparation. However, the NHAI has canceled the three tenders.
In April 2015, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the coastal highway project will boost tourism and communication to the ports of Odisha. The coastal highway projects - Rameshwar (near Tangi in Khordha district) to Ratanpur and Ratanpur to Digha not yet sanctioned and it is premature to ascertain the estimated cost at this stage, Union Minister Gadkari had said earlier in July last week in a written reply to an unstarred question by Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra.
