Bhubaneswar, June 3 -- In a major boost to road infrastructure in Odisha, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a new coastal highway connecting Rameshwar and Paradip at an estimated cost of Rs 8,300.79 crore.

The project, to be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), will cover a total length of 160.18 km and will be executed in two packages. The proposed corridor will pass through the districts of Khordha, Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur.

According to official sources, the highway has been planned to improve connectivity along Odisha's coastal belt and ease traffic congestion on existing routes. While the stretch from Rameshwar to Konark...