Odisha’s new 160-km Coastal Highway to cut Rameshwar-Paradeep travel time by 2.5 hours

Odisha's new 160-kilometer Coastal Highway is set to significantly reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep, cutting it by approximately 2.5 hours. Developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), this access-controlled greenfield highway aims to provide faster connectivity to key locations in the state. The highway will be constructed in two phases: the first 79.4 km from Rameshwar to Konark, and the second 80.7 km from Konark to Paradeep.

The project, with a total capital cost of Rs 8,300.79 crore, will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and will have a design speed of 100 kmph. It is expected to offer faster and more direct access to popular tourist destinations such as the Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach, and Konark Sun Temple. Additionally, the new highway will serve as an alternative route to NH-16 and NH-316, improving connectivity to Puri, Konark, Paradeep Port, and the upcoming Puri International Airport.

The corridor will also facilitate connections to emerging ports like Astarang and Subarnarekha, and several Odisha districts including Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur. The project aims to address traffic issues on existing routes, with sections of NH-16 and NH-316 having high ribbon development and local traffic. By offering high-speed and direct connectivity, the Rameshwar-Paradeep Coastal Highway is expected to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and vehicle operating costs, while also lowering logistics costs and supporting economic activity in the region.

NHAI received 17 bids for the project, with 10 for the Rameshwar-Konark segment and seven for the Konark-Paradeep segment, generating around 53.6 lakh direct and 67 lakh indirect man-days of employment during construction.