Odisha Coastal Highway's Package 3 Gets Green Clearance

In a promising turn, Package 3 of Odisha's coastal highway project, stretching from Kakatpur to Erasama, has received a crucial recommendation for environmental clearance. This development follows the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) decision to cancel tenders for several segments of the ambitious 346-km coastal highway due to alignment issues.Package 3 had encountered resistance from locals due to revised alignment, prompting apprehensions over the project's viability. However, sources confirm that the highway's alignment has been reworked and endorsed for environmental clearance. Once the necessary approvals are obtained, the detailed project report (DPR) will be formulated.Veerendra Singh, Chief General Manager of Odisha Circle, expressed optimism about the coastal highway's revival, stating, The NHAI will proceed once the environmental clearance and other statutory clearances are obtained. The coastal highway project, announced in 2015 by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, aims to enhance connectivity to ports, ease traffic congestion, and boost tourism in the state by linking seven coastal districts.Originally envisioned as an Rs 80 billion project spanning from Gopalpur to Digha, the highway's length was later reduced to 346 km (Rameshwar to Digha) through a revised alignment, bypassing ecologically sensitive areas including Chilika, Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bhitarkanika Sanctuary.The recent environmental clearance recommendation for Package 3 brings renewed hope to the coastal highway initiative, shedding light on a potential solution to previous alignment-related setbacks. The project's progression aligns with the broader goal of enhancing infrastructure and connectivity while mitigating ecological impact.