The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval for a substantial segment of the Odisha Coastal Highway, extending from Rameshwar to Digha, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 8,300.79 crore.
This 160.18 km section is part of a larger 346 km greenfield initiative and will be constructed using a hybrid annuity model (HAM) in two phases: a four-lane road from Rameshwar to Kakatpur and a two-lane road with paved shoulders from Kakatpur to Paradip.
Despite experiencing delays due to alterations in traffic volume forecasts, land acquisition is advancing, with 70 percent of the land secured for Package-I and 30 percent for Package-II. This segment of the highway has already obtained environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, and an online application has been submitted for stage-I forest clearance.
The project will encompass significant infrastructure developments, including bridges, flyovers, and rail overbridges. Specifically, it will involve the construction of 36 major bridges (one of which is a 3.3 km bridge over the Mahanadi River), 89 minor bridges, 376 culverts, three flyovers, six viaducts, three railway overbridges (ROBs), and 45 vehicle underpasses.
