Odisha roadway projects expected to accelerate NH goals amid countrywide slowdown

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s April 17 visit to Odisha marked a bold counter to India’s slowed-down highway development, as he announced projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore to boost the state’s road network.

Notably, the announcement came as national highway construction hit a six-year low, with just 4,874 km awarded and 8,330 km built by February 2025, as per a report by the Ministry of Roads. Delays due to the Model Code of Conduct during elections and erratic monsoons were to be blamed for this slowdown.

However, while India stares at finishing the fiscal year with its weakest performance since 2017-18, Odisha’s Rs 2 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline aims to not only bridge gaps but set a roadmap for recovery.

Mega Projects: Economic Corridors for Trade and Industry

Gadkari outlined high-impact corridors designed to link Odisha’s mineral hubs, ports, and industries to national networks:

Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor: A 464 km, six-lane route (Rs 20,000 crore) will connect Chhattisgarh’s coal reserves to Andhra’s ports, with Odisha’s 241 km stretch (Rs 8,000 crore) set for completion by December 2025.

Ranchi-Sambalpur Corridor: This 150 km, four-lane highway (Rs 8,000 crore) will cut travel distance by 65 km, easing coal and steel transport between Jharkhand and Odisha by 2028.

Chandikhole-Paradip Eight-Lane Corridor: Slated for December 2026, this 77 km project (Rs 4,000 crore) will halve travel time to Paradip Port, a lifeline for exporting minerals like iron ore and bauxite.

ALSO READ: Chandikhole–Paradip corridor to halve travel time by 2026: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Urban Decongestion and Industrial Access

Bhubaneswar Ring Road: A six-lane bypass approved to divert heavy traffic from the capital.

Chandikhol-Barbil Greenfield Highway: A 200 km, Rs 6,000 crore route to streamline steel and magnesium transport from Barbil’s mines.

Upgraded links to major industries, including JK Paper Mill, NALCO, and Utkal Aluminium Plant, will slash logistics delays.

Bridging Geographic Barriers:

Tel River Bridge: A soon-to-be-tendered project in Kalahandi to connect the tribal regions of Bolangir and Kalahandi.

Chilika Lake Bridge: A Rs 500 crore initiative to boost tourism to Puri and streamline access to coastal industries.

ALSO READ: Odisha unveils Rs 2.3 lakh crore road construction projects; ring roads in 11 cities

Strategic Impact: Ports, Tourism, and Cost Savings

By prioritising Paradip Port, which handles 130 million tonnes of cargo annually, the projects aim to integrate Odisha’s mineral-rich hinterlands with global trade routes, potentially reducing logistics costs by 15–20%.

Enhanced highways are also expected to unlock tourism potential, linking UNESCO sites like Konark Sun Temple, Chilika Lake’s ecotourism zones, and wildlife hotspots like Simlipal Tiger Reserve.

Execution Timeline and Funding

With Rs 60,000 crore already spent and Rs 75,000 crore in the pipeline, Gadkari pledged Rs 3 lakh crore in completed projects by 2026. Further, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has floated tenders for key ventures, including:

Deogarh-Khairapalli Road: A 71 km, two-lane route (Rs 472 crore) to improve access to western Odisha.

Sonepur Road: A 9 km stretch with a detailed project report (DPR) ready for rollout.

A Model for National Revival?

As India’s highway sector struggles, Odisha’s targeted investments—prioritising ports, minerals, and tourism—could offer a blueprint to reignite growth. By aligning infrastructure with economic strengths, the state aims to not only counter the slowdown but also emerge as eastern India’s logistics gateway.