Cabinet Approves Rs. 8,307 Crore 6-Lane Capital Region Ring Road in Odisha to Ease Traffic, Boost Growth.
New Delhi:
In a major infrastructure push for eastern India, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the construction of a 6-lane access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road (CRRR) around Bhubaneswar, spanning 110.875 km. The project, to be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), is estimated at a capital cost of Rs. 8,307.74 crore.
Decongesting Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha
The new greenfield highway will run from Rameshwar to Tangi, offering an alternate route for traffic currently crowding the existing National Highways that pass through Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. These urban centres face significant congestion due to high volumes of commercial and passenger vehicles.
By creating a bypass, the CRRR aims to divert heavy traffic away from city centres, thus improving traffic flow, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing road safety.
Strategic Integration with Key Corridors
The new corridor will connect with:
- Three major National Highways: NH-55, NH-57, and NH-655
- One State Highway: SH-65
The alignment is strategically designed to link major economic and social nodes, including:
- 10 Economic Zones: SEZs, Mega Food Park, Textile and Pharma Clusters, Fishing Clusters
- 4 Social Nodes: Including aspirational and tribal districts
- 5 Logistic Nodes: Ensuring seamless freight movement
The route also integrates with major transportation hubs:
- Bhubaneswar Airport
- Khordha Railway Station
- Ports of Puri and Astarang
- Proposed Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP)
Boost to Employment and Regional Growth
The project is expected to generate significant employment:
- 74.43 lakh person-days of direct employment
- 93.04 lakh person-days of indirect employment
Officials estimate the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for FY-2025 at 28,282 Passenger Car Units (PCU), highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure to support rising demand.
Key Project Highlights:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) |
| Length | 110.875 km |
| Corridor | Kolkata – Chennai |
| Total Capital Cost | Rs. 8,307.74 crore |
| Civil Cost | Rs. 4,686.74 crore |
| Land Acquisition | Rs. 1,029.43 crore |
| Mode | Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) |
| Major Cities Connected | Khordha, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal |
Impact and Outlook
Once completed, the CRRR will serve as a critical backbone for Odisha’s infrastructure, opening up new economic corridors, easing urban congestion, and facilitating trade, tourism, and industrial development.
The project stands as a testament to the government’s focus on regional connectivity, economic integration, and job creation, reinforcing Odisha’s position as a key hub in India’s eastern development corridor.
