Odisha to develop INR 8,300 Cr coastal highway to boost tourism, connectivity
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The improved connectivity is expected to promote beach tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based travel alongside providing better access to Odisha’s coastal biodiversity.
Odisha is set to enhance connectivity along its coastline with the development of the 160.18-km Rameshwar–Paradeep Coastal Highway, a major infrastructure project expected to improve travel, strengthen tourism and support regional economic growth.
The project, to be executed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), will be developed at an estimated cost of INR 8,300.79 crore. The proposed corridor will pass through the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur, linking key religious, cultural and commercial destinations across the state's coastal belt.
The highway will comprise a four-lane access-controlled stretch between Rameshwar and Konark, while the Konark–Paradeep section will be built as a two-lane road with paved shoulders. Designed for speeds of up to 100 kmph, the corridor is expected to offer faster and safer travel for both passenger and freight traffic.
According to the ministry, the new route is projected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by around two-and-a-half hours, significantly improving road connectivity across the region.
The project is also expected to provide a boost to Odisha's tourism sector by improving access to some of the state's most prominent pilgrimage and heritage sites. Better road connectivity will make travel more convenient for visitors heading to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the UNESCO-listed Konark Sun Temple and the Ramchandi Temple, strengthening Odisha's religious and cultural tourism circuit.
In addition to benefiting tourists and pilgrims, the highway is expected to improve logistics and freight movement, particularly by enhancing connectivity to the Paradeep port region. The project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen transport infrastructure while supporting tourism and economic development along Odisha's coastline.
The improved connectivity is expected to promote beach tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based travel alongside providing better access to Odisha’s coastal biodiversity, including the Gahirmatha turtle nesting sites and other ecologically significant areas.
