Traffic Congestion on Puri Highway to Ease as Odisha Finalizes Blueprint For New 4-Lane Alternative Corridors
Key Points
State government finalizes blueprint for dual 4-lane alternative corridors on both sides of NH 316.
Work is divided among various R&B divisions covering key stretches like Phulnakhara-Niali and Kapilprasad-Jatni.
Project includes smart traffic signals, flyovers, CCTV surveillance, and strict illegal parking removal.
Bhubaneswar: In a major move to streamline commuter movement to the heritage city of Puri, the Odisha government has finalized the blueprint for a mega infrastructure project aimed at easing heavy traffic pressure on the existing Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway (NH 316).
The decision comes in view of the daily influx of lakhs of devotees and tourists heading toward Srimandir and Puri.
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Following
directives from the Chief Minister, the project outline was finalized
during a high-level review meeting held on August 20 under the
chairmanship of the Principal Secretary of the Works Department. The
Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) of the Works Department has since issued
detailed execution guidelines to the respective departmental wings.
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Dual-Corridor
Strategy and Division of Work
To guarantee seamless connectivity for travelers moving from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar toward Puri, authorities have distributed responsibilities across two major alternative corridors flanking both sides of the national highway:
Left-Side Alternative Corridor (Phulnakhara-Niali-Madhab Road - 54 km):
The 4-lane upgrade has been split into three distinct segments. Cuttack Division-2 will handle the 0 to 35.937 km stretch.
OB and CC will execute expansion and strengthening work between the 36th and 42nd kilometers on the Phulnakhara-Niali-Charichhak-Gop route.
The remaining section from 42 to 54 km will be managed by the Puri R&B Division.
Additionally, the 18.5 km Gop-Balighai Road is slated for a 4-lane upgrade under the Puri R&B Division, replacing earlier DLPS provisions.
Right-Side Alternative Corridor (Kapilprasad to Jatni Road - 14.056 km):
Connecting to the Khordha-Pipili state highway near Harirajpur, the 1.300 to 4.500 km stretch will be developed into 4 lanes by Bhubaneswar R&B Division-2 (with work on the 4.5 to 14.056 km stretch already underway). This division will also oversee work stretching from the Pokhariput ROB to the Kapilprasad-Jatni road.
For the Khordha-Pipili Road (Harirajpur to Pipili - 11 km) and the subsequent Pipili-Delang Section, Bhubaneswar R&B Division-2 will assess brownfield or greenfield alternatives for 4-laning.
Feasibility for the Delang to Indupur section will be checked by Bhubaneswar Division-2, while Puri Division will handle the stretch from Indupur to the proposed Coastal Highway junction, where the NHAI will construct a dedicated, modern junction.
Focus on Smart Traffic and Safety Systems
The state leadership has stressed that unhindered travel must be guaranteed free of traffic bottlenecks. Consequently, strict directives have been issued to incorporate key urban mobility measures into the project. These include the development of major junctions, construction of flyovers and overbridges at critical points, installation of smart traffic signaling systems, comprehensive CCTV surveillance, and stringent crackdowns on illegal parking along the routes.
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