Viksit Odisha: 35 road corridors spanning 6,100 km to be developed at Rs 3 lakh crore by 2036

The Odisha government has unveiled a comprehensive master plan to develop 35 road corridors spanning 6,100 km by 2036, aligning with its ‘Viksit Odisha’ vision.

According to reports, the network includes 2,800 km of National Highway (NH) arterial roads, 2,700 km of non-NH roads, 600 km of inter-corridor links, and 1,500 km of feeder roads for last-mile connectivity.

The corridors will prioritise access-controlled highways, linking industrial hubs, mineral-rich zones, ports, and socially significant regions.

The reports come after the recent visit of Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to the state, where he emphasised upgrading Odisha’s highways to global standards, stating that projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore were already underway.

Key High-Impact Corridors: 

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

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

Chandikhole-Paradip Eight-Lane Corridor: This 77 km project (Rs 4,000 crore) will halve travel time to Paradip Port, critical for mineral exports, by December 2026.

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Urban Decongestion and Industrial Access

To reduce urban traffic, ring roads and bypasses will be built in all towns with populations exceeding one lakh.

The Bhubaneswar Ring Road, a six-lane bypass, will divert heavy traffic from the capital, and a 200 km greenfield highway from Chandikhol to Barbil (Rs 6,000 crore) will streamline steel and magnesium transport from mining zones.

Bridging Geographic Barriers

Critical bridges will address regional disparities. Gadkari had stated plans for the Tel River Bridge to connect tribal regions of Bolangir and Kalahandi, while the Rs 500 crore Chilika Lake Bridge is expected to boost tourism to Puri and improve access to coastal industries.

Institutional Overhaul for Efficient Execution

Reports also added that the newly formed Odisha State Highway Authority (OSHA) will spearhead the master plan, with powers to expedite approvals and land acquisition, with institutions like IIT-Bhubaneswar and NIT-Rourkela slated to ensure quality control.

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Funding and Timeline

The central government has allocated Rs 75,000 crore for road infrastructure over the next five years, supplementing ongoing central investments. With Rs 60,000 crore already spent, Gadkari pledged Rs 3 lakh crore in completed projects by 2026.

Tenders for key routes, including the 71 km Deogarh-Khairapalli Road (Rs 472 crore), are underway, ensuring a mega transformation for Odisha ahead of its centenary celebrations in 2036.