The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a new coastal highway connecting Rameshwar and Paradeep in Odisha. The project will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at a total capital cost of ₹8,300.79 crore.
Spanning approximately 160.18 km across the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur, the highway aims to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and boost economic development in the region. The project has been divided into two packages: a 79.40-km four-lane access-controlled highway from Rameshwar to Konark and an 80.78-km two-lane highway with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep.
The existing road network along the corridor, particularly the Puri–Satapada and Puri–Konark stretches, faces challenges such as poor road geometry, ribbon development, and heavy local traffic, making long-distance travel inefficient. The new highway is designed for speeds of up to 100 km per hour and will provide safer and faster movement for passenger and freight vehicles.
Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the project will connect nine economic nodes and five logistics nodes, including Puri Railway Station, Puri Airport, Astarang Port, Paradeep Port, and the Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Jagatsinghpur. It will also support key economic hubs such as SEZs, food processing clusters, pharmaceutical centers, and fishing clusters across Odisha.
Upon completion, travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep is expected to be reduced by around two and a half hours. The project is also expected to lower fuel consumption, vehicle operating costs, and carbon emissions while enhancing the country’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
Additionally, the highway is projected to generate over 53.61 lakh direct and 67.01 lakh indirect man-days of employment, contributing significantly to regional growth and job creation.
