Cabinet approves Rs 8,308-crore Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) project in Odisha

The project alignment integrates with 3 major National Highways (NH-55, NH-57 and NH-655) and 1 State Highway (SH-65)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday has approved the construction of a 110.875 km, 6-lane access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) in Odisha at a capital cost of Rs 8,307.74 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

Currently, connectivity between Rameshwar and Tangi on the existing National Highway experience significant congestion due to high traffic volumes, passing through highly urbanised cities Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. To address these challenges, the 110 km-long project is proposed to be developed as a 6-lane access-controlled greenfield highway, an official statement said.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The project is proposed to be developed as a 6-Lane Access-Controlled Greenfield Highway. The project will provide significant benefit to Odisha and other eastern States by diverting heavy commercial traffic away from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khordha cities.It is a very important project, and the Prime Minister's vision of Purvodaya is for the development of all our states located in Eastern India."

"The project aims to decongest traffic on the Rameshwar–Tangi stretch of the existing national highway, which passes through Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack," according to a official statement. "By diverting heavy commercial vehicles away from these urban centres, the ring road will improve freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and accelerate socio-economic growth in the region," the statement further added.

Designed as a Greenfield highway, the alignment will integrate with three national highways (NH-55, NH-57, NH-655) and one state highway (SH-65), while also enhancing multi-modal connectivity. It will link 10 economic nodes, 4 social nodes, and 5 logistics nodes, in addition to connecting a major railway station, Bhubaneswar airport, a proposed Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), and two major ports.

The project is expected to generate nearly 1.67 crore person-days of direct and indirect employment and provide a major boost to trade, industry, and regional connectivity, while also linking important religious and economic centres of Odisha.

*With Agency Inputs