Odisha’s New Coastal Highway: A Gateway to Spiritual Journeys and Coastal Tourism Revolution

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is constructing the 160.18 km Rameshwar‑Paradeep Coastal Highway in Odisha at a capital cost of ₹8,300.79 crore. The project includes a 4‑lane access‑controlled stretch from Rameshwar to Konark and a 2‑lane stretch from Konark to Paradeep, designed for 100 km/h. It will cut travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by about 2 hours 30 minutes, improve passenger and freight movement, and link Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts. The highway is intended to boost pilgrimage access to Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple and Ramchandi Temple, promote coastal tourism—including beaches, biodiversity hotspots and Gahirmatha turtle nesting sites—and stimulate local economies through hotels, homestays, restaurants and handicraft markets, aligning with PM GatiShakti by connecting nine economic and five logistics nodes.