₹8,300 Crore Coastal Highway Project Connecting Rameshwar and Paradip in Odisha

₹8,300 Crore For Rameshwar-Paradip Coastal

Highway Project 

Project to Boost Connectivity, Tourism, Logistics and Economic Growth Across Coastal Odisha

CNB WORLD TIMES

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a new Coastal Highway from Rameshwar to Paradip in Odisha under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The project will be implemented in two packages covering a total length of approximately 163.18 km, with a combined capital investment of ₹8,300.79 crore.

The ambitious highway project will pass through the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur, significantly improving road connectivity along Odisha’s coastal region. The new corridor is designed to ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time and provide a safer and more efficient route for both passenger and freight movement.

At present, long-distance traffic relies on the existing road network comprising NH-16 and NH-316. While NH-16 forms part of the Golden Quadrilateral and serves major urban centres such as Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Puri–Satapada and Puri–Konark stretches of NH-316 face challenges due to poor road geometry, ribbon development and heavy local commuter traffic. These factors limit smooth and efficient long-distance travel.

To address these issues, the new Coastal Highway will be developed with modern road infrastructure standards. The Rameshwar–Konark section (Package-I) will be constructed as a four-lane highway, while the Konark–Paradip section (Package-II) will feature a two-lane carriageway with paved shoulders. The entire corridor is being designed for a speed of up to 100 km per hour, ensuring faster and safer travel.

The project is expected to bring substantial benefits to residents, businesses and tourists by enhancing regional mobility and supporting socio-economic development in coastal Odisha. It will strengthen connectivity to key tourism destinations, facilitate smoother transportation of goods and improve access to markets and services.

Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the highway will connect nine Economic Nodes and five Logistics Nodes, contributing to the country's logistics efficiency and improving India's Logistics Performance Index (LPI).

Upon completion, travel time between Rameshwar and Paradip is expected to reduce by approximately two and a half hours. The improved corridor will also lead to lower fuel consumption, reduced vehicle operating costs and significant cuts in carbon emissions, supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation.

The Coastal Highway is expected to emerge as a major infrastructure catalyst for Odisha, promoting tourism, industrial growth, port connectivity, employment generation and overall economic development across the state's coastal belt.