In a recent move the Centre has decided to build two coastal highway projects in Odisha at an estimated cost of ₹7,500 crore. For the highway projects commanding a length of 415 km NHAI has already finalized the alignment last year, said sources, adding that the total project cost worth ₹6,000 crore has been earmarked for construction work, while the remaining ₹1,500 crore has been set aside for land acquisition. The 252 km long Gopalpur-Ratanpur stretch via Chatrapur-Satapada-Konark-Astrang-Naugaon-Paradip-Ratanpur is in DPR preparation stage. Preliminary alignment has been approved and modifications are under discussion over 162-km long Ratanpur-Digha stretch via Basudevpur-Chandipur-Chandaneswar. After submission of final feasibility report, alignment has been finalized and that both the above projects are to be taken up under Bharatmala programs of the Central government.
