Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received 17 bids across two packages for the construction of the 160-km access-controlled greenfield Coastal National Highway connecting Rameshwar with Paradeep in Odisha.
The project, which will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), is aimed at providing faster coastal connectivity while creating an alternative route to existing stretches of NH-16 and NH-316.
Strong Bid Participation Across Two Packages
NHAI invited bids for the highway in two packages, with both attracting multiple bidders.
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- Package I: Rameshwar–Konark, spanning 79.4 km, will be a four-lane access-controlled highway and received 10 bids.
- Package II: Konark–Paradeep, covering 80.7 km, will be a two-lane highway with paved shoulders and received seven bids.
- Combined length: 160.1 km
- Project implementation mode: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
₹8,300 Crore Project Approved by Cabinet
The Rameshwar–Paradeep Coastal Highway was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in June 2026 with a combined capital cost of ₹8,300.79 crore.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, construction of the corridor has the potential to generate around 53.6 lakh direct man-days and 67 lakh indirect man-days of employment.
Faster Access to Odisha’s Tourist and Port Destinations
Designed for a speed of up to 100 km per hour, the corridor will provide direct connectivity to major destinations including the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach and Konark Sun Temple.
The project is expected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The highway will also provide connectivity to the Paradeep Port, the upcoming Puri International Airport, and developing ports such as Astarang and Subarnarekha.
Alternative to NH-16 and NH-316
The new corridor will provide an alternative route to NH-16 and NH-316 and improve connectivity to Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts.
The existing NH-16 forms part of the Golden Quadrilateral and passes through major urban centres including Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. NH-316 connects Bhubaneswar with Puri and extends towards Satapada and Konark.
The Puri–Satapada and Puri–Konark stretches have significant ribbon development and local commuter traffic, making them less suitable for high-speed, long-distance traffic.
Key Project Benefits
The proposed access-controlled corridor is intended to:
- Provide faster coastal connectivity across Odisha.
- Reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep.
- Offer an alternative route to NH-16 and NH-316.
- Improve access to tourist destinations and ports.
- Facilitate connectivity with the upcoming Puri International Airport.
- Reduce fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs.
- Lower carbon emissions and logistics costs.
- Support economic activity across the region.
The corridor is expected to strengthen road connectivity along Odisha’s coast while providing a faster route for passenger and freight movement. By easing long-distance traffic and improving access to key tourist and port destinations, the project is aimed at making coastal transportation more efficient.
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