Odisha's new Rs 8,300 crore coastal highway project poised to spur economic growth
New Delhi, July 19
Odisha's coastline is set to witness a major transformation with the construction of the new 160.18 km Rameshwar-Paradeep Coastal Highway project to be developed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways with a total capital cost of Rs 8,300.79 crore, according to an official factsheet issued on Sunday.
Designed to provide faster, safer and smoother travel, the project includes a 4-lane access-controlled highway from Rameshwar to Konark and a 2-lane highway with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep, with a design speed of 100 km/hour. Once completed, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes, improving passenger movement as well as freight connectivity.
Aligned with the principles of PM GatiShakti, the project will connect 9 economic nodes and 5 logistics nodes, further strengthening Odisha's economic network. It will also improve access to important hubs such as Paradeep Port, Puri Railway Station, Puri Airport and other regional economic centres.
The highway will pass through Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts, creating a seamless connection between important cultural, religious, tourism and economic destinations.
The corridor will strengthen connectivity between the world-renowned Jagannath Temple in Puri, the historic Konark Sun Temple, and the revered Ramchandi Temple, making pilgrimage journeys more convenient for millions of devotees visiting Odisha every year.
Improved road infrastructure will not only reduce travel time but also enhance the overall pilgrimage experience by providing safer and more comfortable movement for tourists and devotees. The upcoming airport infrastructure in the region will further strengthen Odisha's position as a major spiritual tourism destination, enabling easier access for visitors from across India and the world.
The Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor is set to become a new coastal tourism gateway, linking beaches, heritage sites, biodiversity hotspots and local communities along Odisha's eastern coastline.
With improved connectivity between Puri, Konark and Paradeep, these destinations will emerge as part of a unified tourism circuit offering travellers a complete coastal experience - from spiritual heritage and ancient architecture to beaches and natural ecosystems.
The highway will open new opportunities for beach tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based travel, while providing easier access to important ecological destinations, including wildlife areas and the famous Gahirmatha turtle nesting sites.
Better connectivity will also encourage sustainable tourism practices by increasing awareness about Odisha's unique coastal biodiversity and conservation efforts. Visitors will have greater access to natural landscapes while supporting responsible tourism models that protect fragile ecosystems.
The new highway is also expected to create opportunities for local communities by encouraging the growth of hotels, homestays, restaurants, handicraft markets and tourism-based businesses along the corridor.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative for connectivity but Rs 8,300 crore is a massive investment. I hope there's proper environmental impact assessment considering it's a coastal region - those turtle nesting sites near Gahirmatha are ecologically sensitive.
As someone from Puri, this makes me very happy. The current road conditions are terrible, especially during monsoon and Rath Yatra season when thousands of pilgrims come. 2.5 hours reduced travel time will be a game-changer for locals and tourists alike. Hope the local roadside vendors and small businesses also benefit from the development.
Impressive coastal infrastructure project. The integration with PM GatiShakti and connecting 14 economic and logistics nodes shows strategic planning. But will there be adequate pedestrian crossings and local road access? Often these highways create physical barriers between coastal communities and their traditional livelihoods.
Chaka achha project heye! (This is a good project!) Paradeep port badly needs better road connectivity - currently trucks take hours to move goods. This should boost export-import activities. Just hope the land acquisition is done fairly for affected farmers.
Am I the only one worried about the environmental cost? Coastal highways in other states have led to sand dune destruction and impact on local fisheries. Odisha has such beautiful, relatively untouched coastline. Development is needed but not at the cost of our unique ecosystems 🌊
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.