The State Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister has approved four road infrastructure tenders totalling Rs 5.38 bn under the State Plan executed by the Works Department. All packages were awarded to Ashribad Eng. & Constructions Pvt. Ltd. (Ashribad Group) as the lowest tenderer and are intended to boost regional connectivity and industrial logistics in southern Odisha. The decisions form part of an accelerated plan to enhance multi?modal transport efficiency and adherence to project timelines.

The approved projects comprise upgrading and widening key corridors in Rayagada district, including the Rayagada to Kereda corridor, two phases of the Komtalpeta–Muniguda–Tumudibandha corridor and the Bhawanipatna–Muniguda corridor. The Rayagada to Kereda package covers 25.166 kilometres with a cabinet?approved bid of Rs 1.27 bn against an estimated cost of Rs 1.86 bn. The first phase of SH?5 spans 30 kilometres with a bid of Rs 1.47 bn against an estimate of Rs 2.15 bn.

The second phase of SH?5 adds over 30 kilometres and includes 6,340 metres of strengthening, with a cabinet?approved tender of Rs 1.34 bn against an estimate of Rs 2.01 bn, while the Bhawanipatna–Muniguda upgrade covers roughly 26.31 kilometres with strengthening of 3,930 metres and a bid of Rs 1.31 bn against an estimate of Rs 1.96 bn. Each project carries execution timelines of 24 months and design parameters that permit speeds up to 80 km/h on selected stretches. The Rayagada–Kereda upgrade is projected to cut journey time by 50 per cent from 60 minutes to 30 minutes and will directly benefit dozens of villages.

Ashribad Group, headquartered in Bhubaneswar, has a track record in highways, urban pavements, bridges and irrigation works and will be responsible for delivering the packages. Officials expect the corridors to lower logistics costs for major industrial houses and to improve access to ports such as Visakhapatnam, supporting movement of raw materials and finished goods. The upgrades are also intended to improve access to essential services for local residents, a substantial share of whom belong to Scheduled Tribes, and to support religious tourism to the Maa Majhighariani shrine.