Did the Cabinet Approve a 6-Lane Capital Region Ring Road in Odisha for Over Rs 8,307 Crore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Six-lane design for improved traffic flow.
- Investment of over Rs 8,307 crore.
- Integration with major national highways.
- Creation of millions of job opportunities.
- Enhanced connectivity with economic and logistic nodes.
New Delhi, Aug 19 (NationPress) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the construction of a six-lane, access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) spanning 110.875 km in Odisha. This project will be executed under the hybrid annuity model (HAM) at a total investment of Rs 8,307.74 crore.
The alignment of this initiative connects with three significant National Highways (NH-55, NH-57, and NH-655) and one State Highway (SH-65), ensuring smooth connectivity to vital economic, social, and logistics hubs throughout Odisha.
This initiative is expected to yield around 74.43 lakh person-days of direct employment and 93.04 lakh person-days of indirect employment, paving the way for new growth and prosperity in the surrounding areas.
Moreover, the enhanced corridor will bolster multi-modal integration by linking with 10 Economic Nodes, 04 Social Nodes, and 05 Logistic Nodes. This will enhance multimodality through connections with 1 Major Railway Station, 1 Airport, 1 proposed Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), and 2 major Ports, facilitating quicker movement of goods and passengers across the region, as stated by an official announcement.
Currently, the existing National Highway between Rameshwar and Tangi suffers from significant congestion due to high traffic flow through the urban areas of Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
This project aims to mitigate these issues by developing a 6-lane access-controlled Greenfield Highway.
The initiative will greatly benefit Odisha and other eastern states by redirecting heavy commercial traffic away from the cities of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Khordha. This will enhance freight movement efficiency, lower logistics costs, and stimulate socio-economic development in the region.
Upon completion, the bypass is expected to play a crucial role in regional economic expansion, enhancing connectivity between major religious and economic centers and fostering new opportunities for trade and industrial growth, according to the Cabinet.