Odisha approves new alignment for ₹8,000-cr coastal highway

The construction of 382-km long coastal highway project is all set to start as the State Government has agreed to the realignment proposal by NHAI at ₹8,000 crore. The highway, being constructed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, will pass through Tangi (NH-16), Brahmagiri, Puri, Konark, Astarang, Naugaon, Paradip Port, Ratanpur, Satabhaya, Dhamra, Basudevpur, Talapada, Chandipur, Chandaneswar and Digha. NHAI will seek regulatory approvals mandatory for the project as it will pass forest areas and rivers, besides the Bay of Bengal coastline. The length of the project has been decreased to 382 km from 450 km. It will pass through Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore districts besides connecting east Medinipur in West Bengal. The realigned highway will not affect the ecology of Balukhand wildlife sanctuary, Bhitarkanika national park and the turtle nesting grounds.