Odisha plans major transport corridors and bypass roads to connect cities, ease traffic, and boost industrial growth
OdishaPlus Bureau
To ease traffic in cities and boost industrial links, the Odisha government is considering an ambitious project to build new transport corridors and bypass roads throughout the state. This initiative is set to establish a smooth network connecting urban areas, industrial zones, and tourist attractions.
According to official statistics, there are currently 10 bypass roads under construction, covering 48 km, and an additional 6 bypasses, totaling 32 km, have been approved for the 2025–26 fiscal year, with a total budget of around Rs 1,770 crore.
These bypasses, which will be situated in Dhenkanal, Berhampur, Jharsuguda, Bhawanipatna, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, and Khordha, are intended to alleviate congestion in cities, reduce travel times, and improve last-mile access to ports, industrial facilities, and tourist routes.
While the corridor project covers the entire state of Odisha, Cuttack has become a key area of focus. The city is set to develop a six-lane express corridor along the Kathajodi River, linking Khannagar to Judicial Academy Chhak over a distance of 7 km.
Previous reports indicate that the project is supported by an investment of Rs 245 crore and is expected to kick off after the monsoon season, with an anticipated completion time of 18 months.
The Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) is moving forward with a 200-acre eco-riverfront project close to Baranga tehsil. More than 60% of this area will be set aside for greenery and plantations, featuring parks, open gyms, and playgrounds, in addition to a separate Rs 220 crore Mahanadi Riverfront project that’s already in progress.
In line with the city’s development, the government has given the green light for an 8 km-long Cuttack–Athagarh Outer Ring Road, aimed at linking various religious sites and industrial areas, as reported by The Times of India.
Once it’s finished, this road will offer direct access to Anshupa Lake, Bhattarika, Dhabaleshwar, Singhanath Peeth, and businesses like Tata Steel (TS) Alloys, Aarti Steels, and Advanced Materials Technologies (AMTECH) Metals.
On a regional scale, Cuttack is set to be a key player in the upcoming 110-km Greenfield Capital Region Ring Road, a massive Rs 8,300 crore project designed to alleviate traffic on the busy NH-16 route between Khurda, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
This proposed six-lane highway will stretch from Rameshwar in Khordha to Tangi near Cuttack, and it’s expected to cut down intercity travel time by 40 minutes. The plan has been approved by an inter-ministerial panel and is now waiting for Union Cabinet approval, with construction to be carried out under a hybrid annuity model over a two-and-a-half-year period.
Officials indicate that the land acquisition cost, estimated at Rs 1,029 crore, will be split evenly between the Centre and the Odisha government.