Bhubaneswar: The government will create an autonomous body, Odisha State Highways Authority, to expedite the road projects in the state.

The state Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved the Odisha State Highways Authority Bill-2025.

The State Highways Authority will be created along the lines of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It will also look after the existing roads and state highways in Odisha.

Proper road communication is necessary for economic development of the state. The state government has set a target to develop and upgrade around 75,000 km roads in Odisha.

“The Odisha Cabinet has given its nod to Odisha State Highways Authority Bill-2025. The Bill has a provision for the creation of Odisha State Highways Authority,” said the state government today.  

Notably, the Chief Minister, while tabling the State Budget 2025-26 in the Assembly on February 17, proposed a series of strategic road projects in Odisha.

The road projects include Atal Expressway linking Motu in Malkangiri to Tiring in Mayurbhanj and six road corridors: Jharsuguda-Balasore, Nuapada-Astarang, Brundabahal-Gopalpur, Berhampur-Jeypore, Jeypore-Rourkela and Rourkela-Jaleswar. 

Majhi announced that state highways would be converted to 4-lane standards for better connectivity. Similarly, major district roads and other district roads would be developed to 2-lane standards under Road Development Programme (RDP).

In the Budget proposal, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio, allocated Rs 6,502 crore for the improvement of 3,000 km of roads and the development of Berhampur-Jeypore Greenfield Expressway.