Bhubaneswar: Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that it would be premature to specify the cost of the proposed 408-km-long coastal highway project in Odisha until the detailed project report (DPR) is prepared. Responding to a question by BJD MP Sasmit Patra, Gadkari said that the DPR, which includes alignment planning, feasibility study and pre-construction activities, including land acquisition assessment, has been awarded.
The minister added that representations regarding the alignment from Kakatpur to Erasama are currently under examination as part of the DPR process. Civil construction work can only commence after the completion of DPR, obtaining of statutory clearances and finishing pre-construction activities, depending on projected traffic and techno-economic viability.
The ambitious project, first conceived in 2017 under the Bharatmala Pariyojana with an initial estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore, aims to enhance connectivity along Odisha’s coastline from Gopalpur to Digha in West Bengal.
The highway is expected to be a game changer for the region, boosting tourism and trade while improving access to remote coastal areas. Running through scenic landscapes including beaches, estuaries and mangroves, it will promote eco-tourism and strengthen local economies.
Additionally, the highway will serve as a crucial infrastructure for disaster management, facilitating faster evacuation and relief operations during natural calamities like cyclones and floods.