Work on 6-laning of Bhubaneswar-Puri highway in full swing

Odisha: The Odisha government has accelerated the six-lane expansion of the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway (NH). A high-level meeting was held at the Works Department regarding this ambitious road project, chaired by the department’s Principal Secretary, Sanjay Kumar Singh. The meeting discussed various technical and administrative aspects of the project in detail.

According to the proposed plan, NH-316, connecting Bhubaneswar and Puri, will be expanded from its current four lanes to six lanes. This approximately 67-kilometer-long highway plays a vital role in strengthening the state’s key religious and tourism connectivity. Two-lane service roads will also be constructed on both sides of the highway, ensuring the separation of local and main traffic.

A key component of the project will be an approximately 11-kilometer-long elevated corridor from Saptasati Square to Lingipur Square. Three-lane service roads will also be developed on both sides of this corridor. According to the Works Department, this elevated corridor will play a vital role in reducing the growing traffic pressure in Bhubaneswar city and also improve travel times.

Flyovers and vehicle underpasses (VUPs) are also planned to be constructed at several locations under the project. These structures aim to ensure uninterrupted traffic on the main route and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

According to officials, this project is a major step towards modernizing and ensuring a safe traffic system between Bhubaneswar and Puri. This highway is especially important for the millions of pilgrims and tourists who visit the religious site of Puri, which receives a large number of visitors every year.

The Works Department stated that emphasis is being placed on completing all phases of the project in a timely manner. It was also decided in the meeting that special monitoring will be done on both the quality and speed of construction work to ensure the project is completed within the stipulated time.

The government believes that the expansion of this highway will not only ease traffic flow but also boost regional development, tourism, and economic activities. The construction of elevated corridors and service roads is expected to significantly reduce the problem of traffic congestion in urban areas.