160-km access-controlled Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor to be developed in two packages under Hybrid Annuity Mode
Bhubaneswar : The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received an overwhelming response from bidders for the development of a 160-kilometre access-controlled greenfield coastal National Highway corridor connecting Rameshwar and Paradeep in Odisha.
The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and has been divided into two construction packages. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a total of 17 bids have been received for the two packages, indicating strong competition and significant interest among infrastructure developers.
10 Bids for Rameshwar-Konark Package
The 79.4-km Rameshwar-Konark Package-I has received 10 bids.
The package involves the development of a four-lane, access-controlled highway, designed to provide faster and safer connectivity along the Odisha coast.
The second package, covering the 80.7-km Konark-Paradeep section, has received seven bids. This section will be developed as a two-lane highway with paved shoulders.
The strong participation across both packages is expected to support competitive project execution and reflects substantial interest in Odisha’s coastal road infrastructure.
₹8,300 Crore Coastal Highway Project
The Rameshwar-Paradeep coastal highway project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in June at a capital cost of approximately ₹8,300 crore.
The highway has been planned with a design speed of 100 km per hour. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly improve road connectivity along Odisha’s coastline and reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Alternative to NH-16 and NH-316
The new corridor will provide an alternative route to existing NH-16 and NH-316, helping ease pressure on the existing road network while improving direct connectivity between important coastal locations.
The project is expected to strengthen connectivity to major tourist destinations including Puri and Konark, as well as Paradeep Port and the upcoming Puri International Airport.
The corridor will also facilitate smoother movement of goods and people to developing ports, including Astarang and Subarnarekha.
Connectivity to Four Key Districts
The coastal highway is expected to improve connectivity to several important districts of Odisha, including:
- Khurda
- Puri
- Kendrapada
- Jagatsinghpur
Improved road connectivity is expected to support tourism, logistics, port-related activities and regional economic development along the coastal belt.
Boost to Tourism and Port Connectivity
The Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor is strategically important because it connects major tourism centres with existing and emerging port infrastructure.
Faster connectivity to Puri and Konark could benefit tourism movement, while improved access to Paradeep and other developing ports could strengthen the movement of goods and support industrial and logistics activity.
The project is also expected to improve connectivity to the upcoming Puri International Airport, creating an integrated road network linking the airport with major tourist and economic centres.
Existing NH-16 Network
The existing NH-16 forms part of India’s Golden Quadrilateral network and passes through major urban and economic centres including Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
The proposed coastal corridor will provide an additional connectivity option, particularly for traffic moving along the coastal region, while improving access to tourist destinations, ports and other important locations.
With 17 bids received across the two packages, the Rameshwar-Paradeep project has attracted strong industry participation. The development of the corridor is expected to mark a major expansion of Odisha’s coastal road infrastructure and contribute to improved travel efficiency, tourism and port connectivity in the state.
