Bhubaneswar, Nov 7: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari on Friday announced a Rs1,000 crore road development plan for Odisha, aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth and enhancing connectivity across the state.

The announcement was made during the inauguration of the 84th Indian Road Congress (IRC) in Bhubaneswar, where Gadkari joined Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to unveil a series of transformative initiatives.

Central Allocation and Sustainable Vision

Gadkari’s Rs1,000 crore allocation falls under the Central Road Infrastructure Scheme and is expected to significantly boost Odisha’s transport network. He emphasized the use of solid waste in road construction, recommending its adoption in Bhubaneswar to promote sustainable urban development and cleaner cities.

Describing the IRC as the soul of Indian road engineering, Gadkari highlighted its role as a knowledge platform for infrastructure innovation. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for the rapid expansion of India’s road network since 2014, with a national budget of Rs 2.87 lakh crore earmarked for further development.

Also Read: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates 84th Indian Roads Congress

Odisha’s Roadmap for Growth

Chief Minister Majhi outlined Odisha’s ambitious infrastructure goals, including the construction of 75,000 km of roads over the next five years. He noted that while only 91,000 km of national highways were built from independence to 2014, over 55,000 km were added in the last decade alone.

CM Majhi also introduced the “Comprehensive Infrastructure Master Plan” to strengthen the state’s economy and cited the Odisha State Road Policy–2025 and Odisha State Highways Authority Act–2025 as key frameworks. The state is also investing in ports, railways, and aviation to support integrated transport growth.

Honouring Innovation and Collaboration

The event honored distinguished contributors to road engineering and featured the release of a commemorative souvenir. Experts including Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Rahul Gupta, and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja emphasized the importance of global standards and innovation in road quality and safety.