Odisha’s First Road Tunnel Nears Completion; Likely To Boost Koraput, Nabarangpur’s Economic Growth

Construction of Odisha’s first road tunnel is in full swing. Twin tunnels are being built in Koraput district under Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Union government that will connect Raipur and Visakhapatnam.As per sources, the project is expected to be completed by 2025. According to experts, the project will not only bring a thrilling experience for the tourists, but it will also play a great role in the economic development of Koraput and Nabarangpur districts. The twin tunnels are being built near Sunki ghat of Koraput district which is located 3,000 ft above sea level. While the length of one tunnel will be 3.42km, the other tunnel will stretch up to 2.8 km. One of the tunnels will connect Odisha to Andhra Pradesh. It will start from Sunki and end at Kandili. The other one will be in the opposite direction as it will start from Kurali and end at Amphavalli village. The work of the twin tunnels started in 2022 and it is expected to be completed by next year. Local residents are excited about the development as the road tunnel will further enhance the existing aesthetic beauty of Koraput.The six-lane road with 465 km of length from Raipur to Visakhapatnam is being built with an expenditure of Rs 16,000 crore. Its width will be 35 meters and 60 metres in forest and non-forest areas respectively. Apart from enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the area and giving a thrilling experience to tourists, the road tunnel will also play an important role in the economic development of the area. As the first road tunnel nears completion, work on the big bridges and flyovers is being expedited. Koraput Collector V Keerthi Vasan recently made a review of the project and revealed that the project will be completed in time.