Odisha coastal highway stretch between Rameswar and Paradip gets Rs 8,300 crore investment nod

The Union Finance Ministry’s Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has cleared an estimated Rs 8,300.79 crore investment for developing a crucial portion of the Odisha coastal highway between Rameswar in Khordha and Paradip.

Following the current approval, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) can issue bids once the matter receives final union cabinet approval.

Key Stretch to Be Built Under Hybrid Annuity Model

According to reports by The New Indian Express, the approved project spans 160.18 km of the 346-km greenfield coastal corridor and will be constructed under the hybrid annuity model in two phases.

The Rameswar-Kakatpur section is planned as a four-lane access-controlled route, while the Kakatpur-Paradip segment will initially be built as a two-lane road with paved shoulders.

Bridges, Railway Overpass, Underpasses Included

The TNIE reports added that the current DPR estimates 36 major bridges, including a 3.3 km structure over the Mahanadi river, along with 89 minor bridges, six viaducts, three rail overbridges and 45 underpasses.

Once operational, the highway is expected to reduce the distance between Rameswar and Paradip from 210 km to 160.18 km. Travel time is projected to drop by nearly 45%, cutting the current duration of about 5.5 hours to around three hours.

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Broader Push to Expand Odisha Road Network

The approval aligns with an ongoing infrastructure acceleration in the state, with multiple highway works advancing simultaneously. In Bhubaneswar’s urban outskirts, Public Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has set a November deadline for completing the 13.5-km Sundarpada-Jatni four-lane corridor.

The link is expected to ease congestion across the capital’s fast-growing southern belt, and officials are currently addressing drainage, electricity and sewage realignment to prevent post-construction delays.

The state cabinet also recently cleared the proposed 40-km Pipili–Konark greenfield corridor, designed for speeds of up to 100 kmph and expected to slash travel time between the two towns to nearly one-third of the existing duration.

Additional widening works in the Puri region, including connectivity around the Jagannath Temple and key stretches in Nimapara and Astarang, are scheduled to follow as part of the same phase of network strengthening.