Centre Clears Rs 447.71 Bn for Odisha Road Projects

12 Dec 2025 CW Team

Odisha’s Minister for Works, Law and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan, announced the sanctions after a review meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi, where the state’s highway expansion and connectivity needs were discussed.

Of the total outlay, around Rs 300 billion has been earmarked for the expansion and upgradation of National Highways, while about Rs 13 billion has been allocated for State Highway projects. The Centre has also approved a new greenfield high-speed corridor between Bhubaneswar and Paradip, aimed at improving direct connectivity to the port city.

Key National Highway projects include the eight-laning of the Bhubaneswar–Puri road, six-laning of the 140 km Tangi–Puintola–Ichhapuram stretch, eight-laning of the 400 km Rourkela–Bada Bil–Paradip via Duburi corridor, and four-laning of the 68 km Pallahara–Pitiri section of NH-149.

An additional Rs 15 billion has been sanctioned under the CRIF scheme, in line with commitments made during the Indian Road Congress held in Bhubaneswar in November 2025.

For State Highways, approvals worth Rs 131.41 billion include widening works on routes such as Barpali–Balangir, Kesinga–Bhawanipatna–Junagarh, Balangir–Nayagarh, the Hinjilikatu Bypass and the Mohana–Paralakhemundi road, along with upgrades on NH-26.

The projects are expected to significantly enhance inter-district connectivity, support industrial corridors and strengthen Odisha’s transport network over the coming decade.

The central government has recently approved road development projects worth Rs 447.71 billion for Odisha for the 2025–26 financial year, providing a major boost to the state’s transport infrastructure. The approvals include five National Highway projects, five State Highway projects and multiple works under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). Odisha’s Minister for Works, Law and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan, announced the sanctions after a review meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi, where the state’s highway expansion and connectivity needs were discussed. Of the total outlay, around Rs 300 billion has been earmarked for the expansion and upgradation of National Highways, while about Rs 13 billion has been allocated for State Highway projects. The Centre has also approved a new greenfield high-speed corridor between Bhubaneswar and Paradip, aimed at improving direct connectivity to the port city. Key National Highway projects include the eight-laning of the Bhubaneswar–Puri road, six-laning of the 140 km Tangi–Puintola–Ichhapuram stretch, eight-laning of the 400 km Rourkela–Bada Bil–Paradip via Duburi corridor, and four-laning of the 68 km Pallahara–Pitiri section of NH-149. An additional Rs 15 billion has been sanctioned under the CRIF scheme, in line with commitments made during the Indian Road Congress held in Bhubaneswar in November 2025. For State Highways, approvals worth Rs 131.41 billion include widening works on routes such as Barpali–Balangir, Kesinga–Bhawanipatna–Junagarh, Balangir–Nayagarh, the Hinjilikatu Bypass and the Mohana–Paralakhemundi road, along with upgrades on NH-26. The projects are expected to significantly enhance inter-district connectivity, support industrial corridors and strengthen Odisha’s transport network over the coming decade.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..