Odisha's coastal highway project faces another hurdle; details to know so far

Odisha’s ambitious 346-km coastal highway project, delayed for over a decade due to alignment disputes, has encountered a fresh obstacle as land records in 53 villages across Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara districts remain untraceable.

According to reports from The New Indian Express, over 250 hectares of land critical for the project lack documentation, stalling forest clearances and land acquisition.

It also stated that the authorities flagged the issue four months ago, but the absence of pre-1980 records in tehsils like Gop, Erasama, Kujang, Mahakalapada, Pattamundai, Kakatpur, and Brahmagiri has complicated verification processes.

Project Overview

The four-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway will traverse six coastal districts: Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore. The first phase spans 163.2 km from Rameswar (Khurda) to Ratanpur (Kendrapara), cutting through 134 villages.

Built under a hybrid annuity model with a 45-metre right of way, the project requires acquiring 768.82 hectares of land, out of which 639.97 hectares are privately owned, 113.6 hectares are government-owned, and 15.28 hectares are forest land.

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Key Hurdles

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cannot proceed with forest land diversion approvals until it confirms that the identified non-forest land was not classified as forest before 1980.

Despite revising the alignment to bypass eco-sensitive zones like Chilika Lake, Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bhitarkanika National Park, unresolved land disputes and bureaucratic delays persist.

Reportedly, NHAI has already floated tenders worth Rs 7,040 crore for the first phase but cannot finalise contracts without statutory clearances.

Decade-Long Delays

Originally conceived to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time along Odisha’s coastline, the project has faced repeated setbacks since its inception. While the state aims to fast-track approvals, the lack of pre-1980 land records continues to derail progress, leaving communities and stakeholders in limbo.