Bhubaneswar, Jan. 1 -- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the widening and strengthening of a stretch of National Highway-326 (NH-326) in Odisha.

The project involves upgrading the existing two-lane highway to a two-lane road with paved shoulders from Km 68.600 to Km 311.700 and will be implemented under the National Highways (Original) [NH(O)] programme on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.

The total capital cost of the project has been approved at Rs. 1,526.21 crore, which includes a civil construction component of Rs. 966.79 crore. The project is targeted for completion within 24 months from the appointed date for each package, followed by a five-year defect liability and maint...