The Union Government approved road projects worth ₹44,771 crore in Odisha, including a new thoroughfare between Bhubaneswar and Paradip, said Odisha Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan. The approvals cover improvements to National and State Highways as well as Central Road and Infrastructure Fund projects for 2025-26. Five National Highway projects and five State Highway projects got the green light. Key works include widening the National Highway from Bhubaneswar to Puri and the 140-km Tangi-Puintola-Ichchapuram road. Also approved was the 400-km Rourkela-Barbil-Paradip road via Duburi and the 68-km Pallahada-Pitiri stretch on NH-149. Under the CRIF scheme, ₹1,500 crore was allocated. For State Highways, ₹13,141 crore will upgrade roads such as the four-laning of Barpali to Bolangir and Kesinga-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh roads. Other projects include the Bolangir-Nayagarh stretch, Hinjilikatu bypass, four-laning of Berhampur-Kalusandhpur Road, and improving Parlakhemundi Road from Mohana. Minister Harichandan highlighted a greenfield project connecting Bhubaneswar and Paradip, a move to support Paradip’s expected growth as a major port city. "Nitin Gadkari has appreciated the proposal of a greenfield road between Bhubaneswar and Paradip and asked the State Government to submit a revised detailed project report (DPR)," said an official statement.