New four-lane bridge linking Cuttack-Bhubaneswar over Kathajodi river sees progress

The long-awaited plan for a second bridge between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar across the Kathajodi river, and via Trisulia, has finally gained momentum, with the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited (OBCC) floating bids for the project.

According to reports by The New Indian Express, the upcoming bridge will run parallel to the existing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Setu, spanning around 3.127 km, including approach roads from Trisulia and the Judicial Academy.

The project also covers drainage lanes and box culverts. Once completed, the four-lane structure will ease growing traffic congestion on the existing Kathajodi bridge, which has been under pressure since 2017. It is also expected to aid traffic on the NH-16 bridges between the twin cities.

First Bridge Reached Capacity Within Years

The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Setu, a 2.88 km-long bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 114 crore, was commissioned after six years of work to improve connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

But rapid urbanisation, rising vehicle numbers, and the upcoming metro corridor have already outpaced its capacity, leading to demand for an additional link.

Project Revived After Design Changes

An earlier tender for the second bridge was floated in 2023 with a budget of about Rs 220 crore. It was later scrapped due to design changes required for integration with the metro project. The revised bridge will now be executed on a lump sum turnkey (LSTK) basis, making the contractor responsible for the design as well as completion, added the reports.

Wider Corridor Development on Cards

The bridge is part of a broader plan to strengthen the Cuttack–Bhubaneswar corridor. Expansion of approach roads, Judicial Academy Road to Trisulia into a four-lane road and Judicial Academy Road to Jobra into a six-lane road, are also moving ahead.