Odisha: Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor in Odisha received 17 bids for its 160 km coastal highway project, NHAI said on Monday.
The National Highways Authority of India invited bids for the project in two packages. Both packages attracted strong participation from bidders.
The 79.4 km Rameshwar-Konark Package-I received 10 bids. It will be developed as a four-lane access-controlled greenfield highway.
Meanwhile, the 80.7 km Konark-Paradeep Package-II received seven bids. The section will have two lanes with paved shoulders.
NHAI will award both packages under the Hybrid Annuity Mode. The strong response indicates keen interest among bidders in the coastal road project.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Rameshwar-Paradeep project in June 2026. The combined capital cost of the project stands at ₹8,300.79 crore.
During construction, the project is expected to generate 53.6 lakh direct man-days. It could also create 67 lakh indirect man-days of employment.
Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor to improve tourist and port connectivity
The highway will have a design speed of 100 km per hour. It will provide faster access to major tourist destinations across Odisha.
Key destinations include the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach and Konark Sun Temple. The project is expected to cut travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor will also offer an alternative route to NH-16 and NH-316. In addition, it will improve connectivity to Puri, Konark and Paradeep Port.
The highway will support access to the upcoming Puri International Airport. It will also facilitate smoother transport to developing ports such as Astarang and Subarnarekha.
Furthermore, the project will connect Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts. This will strengthen road access across several important parts of coastal Odisha.
NH-16 forms part of the Golden Quadrilateral and passes through Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. NH-316 links Bhubaneswar with Puri and extends towards Satapada and Konark.
However, existing Puri-Satapada and Puri-Konark stretches face heavy local traffic. Nearly 40% of these corridors have ribbon development, which limits their suitability for high-speed long-distance traffic.
The new access-controlled highway will provide a faster alternative for such movement. It is also expected to reduce fuel use, carbon emissions and vehicle operating costs.
At the same time, lower logistics costs could support economic activity across the region. The project will therefore strengthen both transport efficiency and connectivity along Odisha’s coast.
