Odisha to Get Kharagpur-Visakhapatnam Expressway Soon: Minister

22 Nov 2024 CW Team

A new greenfield highway connecting Kharagpur in West Bengal and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, passing through Odisha, is set to be constructed soon. This expressway is poised to become a vital logistics corridor, enhancing high-speed transportation in the region.

Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan shared that preliminary preparations for the project have already commenced. He emphasised that the expressway would play a crucial role in the Gati Shakti Framework of the Central government, describing it as a groundbreaking initiative in road construction for Odisha.

Greenfield roads typically traverse undeveloped areas, leading to lower land acquisition costs and fostering new zones for development alongside other advantages.

According to sources, the 783 km-long expressway project is making steady progress. Ten firms have submitted bids to prepare the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) having opened technical bids on November 5, 2024. MoRTH had invited tenders in June 2024, setting a 1.5-year timeline for completion. A total of 18 bids were received—10 for Package 1 and 8 for Package 2.

The next phase involves a detailed technical evaluation of the bids, a process expected to take a few months. Once completed, the financial bids of the technically qualified consultants will be opened to select the lowest bidder for each package.

Sources further indicated that if contracts are awarded in the first half of 2025, the DPRs could be finalised by the end of 2026. Subsequently, after approvals, land acquisition, and clearances, construction is anticipated to commence around 2028.

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