TV
In a bid to decongest cities and accelerate industrial connectivity, the Odisha government has mulled an ambitious plan to construct new transport corridors and bypass roads across the state. The initiative aims to create a seamless network linking urban centres, industrial hubs, and tourism sites.
As per official data, 10 bypass roads spanning 48 km are currently under construction, while 6 more bypasses covering 32 km have been sanctioned for the 2025–26 fiscal year, with a combined cost of nearly Rs 1,770 crore.
These bypasses, located in Dhenkanal, Berhampur, Jharsuguda, Bhawanipatna, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, and Khordha, are designed to reduce city congestion, cut travel time, and enhance last-mile connectivity to ports, industrial units, and tourist circuits.
Cuttack Becomes Key Focus Area
While the corridor initiative spans across Odisha, Cuttack has emerged as a flagship focus area. The city will soon see the development of a six-lane express corridor along the Kathajodi River, connecting Khannagar to Judicial Academy Chhak over a 7 km stretch.
According to earlier reports, the project is backed by Rs 245 crore investments and is scheduled to begin post-monsoon, with completion expected within 18 months.
The Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) is also pushing ahead with a 200-acre eco-riverfront development near Baranga tehsil. With over 60% of the area dedicated to plantations and green zones, the project will include parks, open gyms, and playgrounds, complementing a separate Rs 220 crore Mahanadi Riverfront project already underway.
Cuttack-Athagarh Outer Ring Road to Boost Trade and Pilgrimage Access
Adding to the city’s transformation, the government has approved an 8 km-long Cuttack–Athagarh Outer Ring Road, designed to connect both religious sites and industrial estates, reported The Times of India.
Once completed, it will provide direct access to Anshupa Lake, Bhattarika, Dhabaleshwar, Singhanath Peeth, and units like TS Alloys, Aarti Steels, and AMTECH Metals.
Also Read | Odisha’s Rs 10,000 crore transport overhaul; Cuttack to major hub with six-lane corridors, ring roads
Greenfield Ring Road to Rewire Regional Transport
At the regional level, Cuttack will also play a central role in the upcoming 110-km Greenfield Capital Region Ring Road, a Rs 8,300 crore mega-project that aims to bypass the congested NH-16 corridor between Khurda, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
The proposed six-lane highway, which will run from Rameshwar in Khordha to Tangi near Cuttack, is expected to reduce intercity travel time by 40 minutes. The plan, cleared by an inter-ministerial panel, awaits Union Cabinet approval and will be built under the hybrid annuity model, with a 2.5-year construction window.
Officials say the land acquisition cost, pegged at Rs 1,029 crore, will be shared 50:50 between the Centre and the Odisha government.
