Bhubaneswar: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Odisha Works Department is fast-tracking infrastructure development aligned with the state’s long-term roadmap ‘Vision 2036.’
A key focus of this initiative is the creation of a well-planned road network to improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support economic growth.
With rising population and vehicle numbers contributing to longer travel times, the state government—guided by Minister of Law, Works and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan—has prioritised the construction of bypass roads around major cities.
The Works Department is currently executing 10 bypass projects covering 48 km, with a total investment of Rs 14,929.085 crore. For FY 2025–26, six additional bypass roads spanning 32 km have been approved at a projected cost of Rs 2,779.157 crore.
These projects aim to ease urban traffic, cut travel time, and open up new commercial corridors, while enhancing access to tourist spots, ports, and industrial zones.
Major Ongoing Projects
- Cuttack: A 6-lane bypass near Khan Nagar and Jobra is expected to reduce commute times by up to one hour.
- Dhenkanal: A 7.7 km bypass near Kamakhyanagar will help decongest markets and cut travel time by 15 minutes.
- Brahmapur: The 13 km ring road will reduce traffic congestion and travel time by 30 minutes.
- Jharsuguda: An 8 km, 4-lane Belpahar bypass with a service road is under construction to ease congestion in Belpahar town.
- Other locations: Key projects include a 6 km link road to Bhawanipatna, a 4 km Pattamundai bypass (Kendrapara), the Silang–Brahmanipal bypass (Keonjhar), and the Bhaganai–Madanpur–Salapada–Patharpada bypass.
- Bhubaneswar: A 5.5 km Inner Ring Road from Tamando Chhak to Paikarapur Chhak will improve access to nearby villages and commercial zones.
New Approvals for 2025–26
Six more bypass proposals have received approval:
- Balangir: A 6.8 km bypass connecting NH-26 to SH-42 will facilitate smoother movement of heavy vehicles.
- Patnagarh: An 8.5 km bypass aims to enhance connectivity across Balangir, Patnagarh, Khariar, and Kantabanji, while reducing accidents and noise pollution.
- Paralakhemundi: A 4 km bypass.
- Kamakhyanagar–Gengutia: A 3 km bypass.
- Dhenkanal–Mahulapada: A new bypass to improve regional access.
- Cuttack–Athagarh: An 8 km outer ring road will ease travel to destinations such as Ansupa Lake, Bhattarika, Dhabaleswar, and Singhanath Temple, and enhance industrial access to TS Alloy, KVK Nilachal Power, Aarti Steel, Pradhan Steel, and Ametek Metal.
Once completed, these bypass roads are expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, improve road safety, and spur economic activities across Odisha.
As envisioned in Vision 2036, the evolving road network is set to play a transformative role in the state’s journey towards inclusive development.
