Odisha’s coastline is set for a major infrastructure upgrade with the construction of the 160.18-km Rameshwar–Paradeep Coastal Highway, a project expected to significantly improve connectivity while giving a major boost to religious tourism, coastal tourism and economic development across the state’s coastal belt.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will develop the project at an estimated cost of ₹8,300.79 crore. The highway will pass through Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts, connecting key cultural, religious, tourism and economic destinations along Odisha’s eastern coastline.
The project will comprise a four-lane access-controlled highway from Rameshwar to Konark and a two-lane highway with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep, designed for speeds of up to 100 km per hour. Once completed, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by nearly two and a half hours, improving both passenger travel and freight movement.
The highway is expected to transform religious tourism by strengthening connectivity between some of Odisha’s most significant pilgrimage destinations, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Konark Sun Temple and the Ramchandi Temple. Improved road infrastructure is expected to make travel safer, faster and more convenient for millions of devotees and tourists visiting the state each year.
MoRTH said the project, together with upcoming airport infrastructure in the region, would further enhance Odisha’s position as a major spiritual tourism destination by improving accessibility for domestic and international visitors.
Beyond pilgrimage, the corridor is also expected to emerge as a major coastal tourism route linking Puri, Konark and Paradeep into an integrated tourism circuit. The improved connectivity is expected to promote beach tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based travel while providing easier access to Odisha’s rich coastal biodiversity, including the Gahirmatha turtle nesting sites and other ecologically significant areas.
MoRTH said the project would encourage sustainable tourism by improving access to natural attractions while supporting conservation efforts and responsible tourism practices.
The highway is also expected to generate new economic opportunities for local communities by promoting the growth of hotels, homestays, restaurants, handicraft markets and other tourism-related businesses along the corridor.
Developed in line with the PM GatiShakti initiative, the project will connect nine economic nodes and five logistics nodes, strengthening Odisha’s transport and logistics network. It will also improve connectivity to key infrastructure, including Paradip Port, Puri Railway Station, the upcoming Puri Airport and other regional economic centres, supporting trade, tourism and overall coastal development.
