Finance
Odisha’s coastline is set to undergo a major transformation with the construction of the new 160.18-km Rameshwar–Paradeep Coastal Highway. The project would be developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) at a total capital cost of Rs 8,300.79 crore, according to an official factsheet released Sunday.
Designed to provide faster, safer, and smoother travel, the project includes a four-lane access-controlled roadway from Rameshwar to Konark and a two-lane highway with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep, both with a design speed of 100 kmph. Once completed, the route is intended to cut travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by almost two hours and 30 minutes, considerably increasing both passenger and freight traffic.
It will also improve access to critical infrastructure such as Paradip Port, Puri Railway Station, the projected Puri Airport, and other regional economic hubs.
The highway would run through the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur, connecting key cultural, religious, tourism, and commercial areas.
The corridor would improve connections between the world-famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, the historic Konark Sun Temple, and the respected Ramchandi Temple, making pilgrimages easier for the millions of devotees who visit Odisha each.
The proposed airport infrastructure in the region is also intended to strengthen Odisha’s position as a major spiritual tourism destination by increasing accessibility for travelers from all across India and overseas.
The Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor is poised to become a new coastal tourism hub, connecting beaches, heritage sites, wildlife hotspots, and local people along Odisha’s eastern coastline.
With improved connectivity between Puri, Konark, and Paradeep, these places are planned to merge into an integrated tourism circuit, providing visitors with a holistic coastal experience that combines spiritual legacy, ancient architecture, pristine beaches, and diverse natural habitats.
Improved connection is projected to enhance sustainable tourism by raising knowledge of Odisha’s unique coastline biodiversity and current conservation initiatives. Visitors will have easier access to the state’s beautiful landscapes while supporting responsible tourism programs that conserve endangered ecosystems.
The initiative is also projected to create new job possibilities for locals by promoting the expansion of hotels, homestays, restaurants, handicraft markets, and other tourism-related companies along the corridor.
