Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha Works Department, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is accelerating the building of infrastructure in line with the state’s long-term plan, “Vision 2036.” Building a well-planned road network is a major goal of this program in order to boost economic growth, decrease traffic, and increase connectivity. Under the direction of Minister of Law, Works, and Excise Prithviraj Harichandan, the state government has made building bypass highways around large towns a top priority because of the lengthier travel times caused by an increasing population and the number of vehicles.
Ten 48-kilometer bypass projects, totaling Rs 14,929.085 crore in investment, are presently being carried out by the Works Department. Six further 32-kilometer bypass highways, estimated to cost Rs 2,779.157 crore, have been approved for FY 2025–2026. In addition to improving access to ports, industrial areas, and tourist destinations, these initiatives seek to reduce travel times, relieve urban traffic, and create new economic corridors.
Major Ongoing Projects
- Cuttack: A 6-lane bypass near Khan Nagar and Jobra is expected to reduce commute times by up to one hour.
- Dhenkanal: A 7.7 km bypass near Kamakhyanagar will help decongest markets and cut travel time by 15 minutes.
- Brahmapur: The 13 km ring road will reduce traffic congestion and travel time by 30 minutes.
- Jharsuguda: An 8 km, 4-lane Belpahar bypass with a service road is under construction to ease congestion in Belpahar town.
- Other locations: Key projects include a 6 km link road to Bhawanipatna, a 4 km Pattamundai bypass (Kendrapara), the Silang–Brahmanipal bypass (Keonjhar), and the Bhaganai–Madanpur–Salapada–Patharpada bypass.
- Bhubaneswar: A 5.5 km Inner Ring Road from Tamando Chhak to Paikarapur Chhak will improve access to nearby villages and commercial zones.New Approvals for 2025–26
Six more bypass proposals have received approval:
- Balangir: A 6.8 km bypass connecting NH-26 to SH-42 will facilitate smoother movement of heavy vehicles.
- Patnagarh: An 8.5 km bypass aims to enhance connectivity across Balangir, Patnagarh, Khariar, and Kantabanji, while reducing accidents and noise pollution.
- Paralakhemundi: A 4 km bypass.
- Kamakhyanagar–Gengutia: A 3 km bypass.
- Dhenkanal–Mahulapada: A new bypass to improve regional access.
- Cuttack–Athagarh: An 8 km outer ring road will ease travel to destinations such as Ansupa Lake, Bhattarika, Dhabaleswar, and Singhanath Temple, and enhance industrial access to TS Alloy, KVK Nilachal Power, Aarti Steel, Pradhan Steel, and Ametek Metal.
