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.