The project faced delays due to environmental clearance issues & public opposition regarding its proposed alignment
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha coastal highway, designed to serve as an alternative parallel route and alleviate congestion on the Chennai-Kolkata NH-16, is poised to become a reality nearly ten years after its initial proposal.
Originally suggested in 2015 to connect Gopalpur in the Ganjam district with Digha in West Bengal, the project faced delays due to environmental clearance issues and public opposition regarding its proposed alignment. However, the situation has improved following a revised alignment that reduces the distance from 451 km to 346 km, avoiding ecologically sensitive regions such as Chilika, Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bhitarkanika National Park.
The four-lane coastal highway will be developed in two segments: from Rameswar to Ratanpur and from Ratanpur to Digha. Additionally, a further 67 km of highway will be constructed to link the coastal highway at Dhamra with NH-16 at Jamujhadi. This 413-km project, divided into three sections and part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana under the Centre’s ‘Purvodaya’ initiative, is estimated to cost Rs 23,882 crore.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already issued tenders for the 163-km section-1 from Rameswar to Ratanpur, which will be developed for Rs 7,040.43 crore using a hybrid annuity model across four packages. This segment will traverse Tangi, Bramhagiri, Puri, Konark, Astarang, Naugaon, and Paradip, encompassing four districts: Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur.
Bids have been announced for the 47.3 km phase-1 from Rameswar to Puri, with a budget of Rs 1,875.9 crore, while the 42 km phase-2 from Puri to Kakatpur is set to be constructed for Rs 1,592.95 crore. Furthermore, the 47.6 km phase-3 from Kakatpur to Erasama will be developed for Rs 2,201.17 crore, and the remaining 26.2 km from Erasama to Ratanpur (Paradip) will be built for Rs 1,370.41 crore.
Chief General Manager of the NHAI Odisha Circle, Veerendra Singh, announced that tenders have been issued following the approval of a revised alignment, which was developed in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. He confirmed that all concerns regarding the alignment have been addressed, and the bids are scheduled to be opened on February 28.
The project faced challenges in Jagatsinghpur district due to public opposition to the previous alignment, which was situated 15 to 25 kilometers from the coastline. The alignment has now been adjusted to an average distance of 8 to 9 kilometers from the coast. Recently, public hearings for environmental clearances were conducted smoothly across the four districts involved.
According to sources, a total of 734.4 hectares of land, encompassing private, government, and forest areas, will be acquired across 183 villages for the first section of the project. To date, land acquisition notifications have been issued for 75 percent of the required land.
Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that, as promised by the BJP government, construction of the coastal highway will commence shortly. The initial segment of the highway is currently in the bidding phase, and its completion is expected to enhance the economy, tourism, and employment opportunities in the coastal districts.
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