The coastal stretch of Odisha, known for its temple towns, fishing hubs, and key port infrastructure, is set for a major connectivity upgrade after the Union Cabinet approved a new high-speed coastal highway between Rameshwar and Paradeep.
The 160.18 km corridor, to be developed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will be built in two packages at an estimated cost of ₹8,300.79 crore. The project will follow the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) with a concession period of 17.5 years and is expected to generate over 120 lakh man-days of employment while reshaping Odisha’s coastal logistics and tourism network.
Why the Coastal Highway Is Needed
At present, Odisha’s transport system relies heavily on NH-16, part of the Golden Quadrilateral, which passes through busy urban centres like Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. While crucial for national connectivity, it is not suited for dedicated coastal freight or tourism movement due to congestion and urban traffic.
Similarly, NH-316, which connects Bhubaneswar, Puri, Satapada and Konark, suffers from design limitations and heavy ribbon development along nearly 40% of its stretch, especially between Puri–Satapada and Puri–Konark. High local traffic further reduces its efficiency for long-distance transport.
The new coastal alignment is designed to solve these bottlenecks while improving mobility across Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts, supporting broader regional growth.
Two-Packaged Highway Designed for High-Speed Movement
The project will be executed in two packages, structured based on terrain and traffic projections. Both segments are designed for a 100 kmph speed standard, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted movement for both passenger and freight traffic along the coast.
Aligned with PM GatiShakti Vision
The corridor has been planned in line with the PM GatiShakti framework, connecting 9 economic nodes and 5 logistics nodes to strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve India’s logistics efficiency.
The economic nodes include SEZs in Bhubaneswar and Khordha (Khandagiri), a mega food park in Bhubaneswar, fishing clusters across Paradeep, Puri, Konark, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada, and a pharma cluster in Cuttack.
The logistics network includes Puri Railway Station, Puri Airport, Astarang Port, Paradeep Port, and the Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Jagatsinghpur. Together, these nodes integrate coastal trade with inland freight movement, making the corridor strategically important.
Major Benefits of the Project
The highway is expected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by around 2 hours and 30 minutes, significantly improving coastal mobility.
It will generate approximately 120.62 lakh man-days of employment during construction and boost tourism access to major destinations such as the Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath Temple, and Paradeep Port.
A Transformational Coastal Infrastructure Push
Overall, the ₹8,300.79 crore Rameshwar–Paradeep Coastal Highway is set to become a key economic artery for Odisha, integrating its spiritual centres, industrial clusters, ports and logistics hubs into a unified high-speed corridor. With major time savings, large-scale employment generation, and improved multimodal connectivity, the project is expected to strengthen Odisha’s position as a rising coastal tourism and logistics hub on India’s eastern seaboard.
