The Union Cabinet approved a new coastal highway in Odisha and the widening and upgrading of highways in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana following a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The coastal highway from Rameshwar to Paradeep will be built under two packages over a combined length of 160.18 km at a capital cost of Rs.83.01 billion (bn). The route passes through the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur and links portions of NH-16 and NH-316. The design proposes a four-lane section from Rameshwar to Konark and a two-lane with paved shoulder from Konark to Paradeep with a design speed of 100 km/hour to improve travel efficiency. The project is aligned with PM GatiShakti principles and will connect nine Economic Nodes and five Logistic Nodes to support multimodal movement. Completion is expected to reduce travel time by about two hours and 30 minutes between Rameshwar and Paradeep and to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and vehicle operating costs. In Madhya Pradesh, CCEA approved upgradation of 125.01 km and widening of 108.643 km on NH-347B at a capital cost of Rs.44.16 billion (bn) to address geometric deficiencies, sharp curves and congestion across Betul, Khandwa, Khargone and Barwani districts. The package includes an extended Greenfield bypass at Khargone of 16.20 km. The works are expected to raise average speeds, reduce travel time and improve road safety and fuel efficiency. CCEA also approved widening in Telangana covering 190.76 km at a cost of Rs.75.97 billion (bn) and upgradation of the Khagaria–Purnea corridor in Bihar of 143.529 km at a cost of Rs.39.36 billion (bn). The Telangana works propose four-lane standards with bypasses and open tolling and are projected to cut travel time by about one hour and 30 minutes on one section and about 45 minutes on another. The Bihar upgrade will include a Greenfield bypass of Purnea of 6.729 km and is intended to strengthen connections to five PM GatiShakti Economic Nodes and 11 Logistic Nodes.