Bhubaneswar Baramunda foot overbridge nears completion; NHAI adds elevator provision

A 57-metre-long, 3-metre-wide and 6-metre-high pedestrian foot overbridge (FOB) at the busy Baramunda in Bhubaneswar is nearing completion, with complete construction expected by the end of December 2025.

Further, as per the approved plan, lifts on both sides of the overbridge have also been provisioned and will become operational after commissioning.

Four FOBs Across Bhubaneswar-Cuttack

According to sources, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had formally approved the construction of four foot overbridges along the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack stretch of National Highway-16, covering Palasuni, Baramunda, and two locations at Manguli on the Chandikhole–Jagatpur–Bhubaneswar corridor.

All four structures are being executed on the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, at a bid project cost of Rs 7.29 crore.

Palasuni and Baramunda High-Risk Locations

It is worth noting that the decision follows years of public demand, particularly at Palasuni, where residents had been seeking a foot overbridge for close to a decade. An earlier tender issued two years ago was cancelled, leaving pedestrian safety concerns unresolved.

Accident data cited in the project records show over 100 accidents in the Palasuni stretch in the past year, including three fatalities, highlighting the need for a dedicated pedestrian crossing. 

Similarly, Baramunda, located near Rajdhani College and key transport links, also sees thousands of daily pedestrian movements, prompting similar safety demands from residents and local businesses.

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Modern Facilities Planned

For the Baramunda and Palasuni foot overbridges, the allocation stands at about Rs 5 crore, including provisions for lifts, upgraded pedestrian access, and safety infrastructure.

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi posted the tender approval documents publicly, noting that the sanctioned FOBs would enhance commuter safety and ease movement along the city’s busiest highway stretches.

Once completed, the four new overbridges are expected to significantly reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflict across the NH-16 corridor in Bhubaneswar.