Odisha NH-53 and NH-55 highway work delayed; show-cause notices issued to NHAI, RVNL and ARSS

The Jagatsinghpur administration has issued show-cause notices to senior officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), and ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd over prolonged delays in two national highway projects in Odisha.

As reported by The New Indian Express, the Jagatsinghpur Sub-Collector issued the notices over the Masakani–Paradip stretch of NH-53 and the Cuttack–Nuagaon segment of NH-55, both of which have missed the approved timelines.

Reports stated that the Masakani–Paradip portion, executed by RVNL as part of the eight-laning of the Paradip–Chandikhole corridor, remains incomplete despite the lapse of its scheduled deadline. Field inspections recorded inadequate diversions, damaged link roads, poor signage and continuing dust from earthwork, all of which have affected local traffic movement.

NH-55 Section Also Under Scrutiny

The TNIE reports added that the Cuttack–Nuagaon stretch of NH-55, being developed by ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd, has also fallen behind target. Complaints received by the administration cited extended detours, slow-moving construction fronts and a rise in traffic disruptions during peak hours.

Accordingly, the SDM has directed NHAI project director JP Verma, RVNL director Rajib Ranjan Pandey, ARSS managing director Rajesh Agarwal and general manager Sudhansu Bhusan Jena to deploy additional manpower, accelerate physical work and file written compliance reports within 10 days.

The administration has instructed the agencies to file their compliance reports within 10 days, after which the submissions will be reviewed and placed on record as part of the ongoing proceedings.

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Fresh Tender For Coastal Highway

The development comes in the same week that NHAI floated a fresh tender for the first phase of the proposed coastal highway between Rameshwar and Paradip. The 160-km section, estimated at Rs 4,961.6 crore, marks the third attempt after earlier bids were withdrawn due to alignment and design revisions.

The tender covers the Rameshwar–Konark and Konark–Paradip stretches under the hybrid annuity model, with a construction timeline of approximately 30 months upon award. The revised proposal is currently awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.