Gadkari Inaugurates and Lays Foundation for Road Projects Worth Over ₹4,000 Crore in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, April 17 – In a major boost to Odisha’s infrastructure development, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 19 road projects worth over ₹4,000 crore in the state. The event was held in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other senior state ministers.

Out of the 19 projects, two projects worth ₹845 crore were dedicated to the public, while the foundation stone was laid for 17 road projects with an estimated cost of ₹3,332 crore. Among the inaugurated projects are the four-lane widening of the Banarpal-Godibandha and Talcher-Kamakhyanagar sections, which aim to enhance connectivity to Angul, Talcher, and Duburi regions. Additionally, vehicular underpasses at Balikuda, Shikharpur, and Badchana are expected to ease traffic congestion significantly.

As part of the development drive, six bridges will be constructed across the Mahanadi, Tel, Hati, and Sagada rivers. Furthermore, the Bangriposi Ghat section of National Highway-49 will see the construction of five elephant underpasses and 14 animal underpasses, supporting wildlife conservation and ensuring safer transit for animals and vehicles.

In an effort to improve road safety, 15 accident-prone black spots on the Cuttack–Ichhapuram stretch of National Highway-16 will undergo permanent improvements.

Responding to a request from the Chief Minister, Gadkari announced the approval of 13 additional road projects worth ₹9,023 crore. He also sanctioned ₹800 crore from the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for further road development in Odisha.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gadkari highlighted that road development projects worth approximately ₹2 lakh crore are already underway in Odisha. Of this, projects worth ₹60,000 crore have been completed, ₹60,000 crore worth are in progress, and new projects totaling ₹75,000 crore are set to begin soon.

Looking ahead, he assured that road development projects worth ₹3 lakh crore will be implemented in Odisha over the next two years. Additionally, eight bypass projects worth approximately ₹5,000 crore have also been approved for key towns including Berhampur, Sambalpur, Balangir, Nayagarh, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur, Phulbani, and Rayagada.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his gratitude and optimism about the pace of development under the “Double Engine” government. “We have achieved immense success in attracting capital and establishing world-class industrial infrastructure. These road projects will further strengthen connectivity and boost economic growth across the state,” he said.

Gadkari assured full support to the Odisha government, stating that any development proposal from the state will receive swift approval from the Centre.