Coastal Highway and Capital Ring Road projects to kick off soon: Odisha Minister

Odisha is charting its path to become a frontrunner in road infrastructure. Coastal Highway and Capital Ring Road projects are to kick off soon, Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday.

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The Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will visit Odisha tomorrow (Thursday, April 17) to inaugurate and lay the foundation for a series of projects valued at Rs 4,000 crore. Among these projects are four Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) bridges, amounting to Rs 427 crore, and two national highways costing Rs 841 crore.

In addition, Minister Gadkari is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for at least 13 national highway projects, totalling an investment of Rs 2,905 crore. This year, while the Odisha government has demanded a grant of Rs 28,000 crore, the Union Minister may announce a grant of Rs 9,000 crore during his official tour to the State.

Poised to take top position in road connectivity

Odisha, once ranked eighth in the country, is determined to ascend to the top position in road connectivity, according to Harichandan. There is a proposal to widen the roads from Bhubaneswar to Puri, the Marine Drive road, and the Puri-Satapada route, including expanding some four-lane roads to six lanes.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has informed yesterday about these projects through a letter. Financial approval has been received for the coastal highway, but due to the lack of administrative approval, the tender process is being delayed.

Despite having secured financial approval for the coastal highway, administrative hurdles have delayed the tendering process. Works Minister Harichandan confirmed that the coastal highway and the capital region ring road projects are likely to begin soon.

“We had placed a demand of around Rs 28,000 crore before the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry this year. The Union Minister is likely to announce a grant of at least Rs 9,000 crore during a programme,” the Works Minister said to mediapersons.

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“Union Minister Gadkari will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate a slew of around nine projects in Odisha, in the presence of the Chief Minister,” the Works Minister added.