Bhubaneswar, 04 June (H.S.): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday strongly criticized the Central Government over the Odisha Coastal Highway project, alleging that the ambitious infrastructure initiative remains incomplete even after 11 years and falls far short of the original vision announced for the state’s coastal development.

Addressing a press conference at Shankha Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, former minister and BJD Vice-President Sanjay Kumar Das Burma said the Coastal Highway project is not merely a road infrastructure initiative but a transformative project linked to Odisha’s economic growth, tourism potential, regional connectivity, and the overall development of its coastal districts.

Referring to the project’s origins, Das Burma said that in 2015, during the Nabakalebara celebrations of Lord Jagannath, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced the construction of a nearly 450-kilometre Coastal Highway stretching from Gopalpur in Odisha to Digha in West Bengal. Alongside the highway, the Centre had also proposed the development of the Capital Region Ring Road and the Rameswar–Chandanpur road as a National Highway corridor.

However, he alleged that despite the passage of more than a decade, the Union Cabinet has approved only two stretches of the project—Rameswar to Konark and Konark to Paradip—with an estimated investment of ₹18,300 crore. According to the BJD leader, the approved alignment appears to exclude large coastal areas of Bhadrak and Balasore districts, including the proposed Paradip-to-Digha stretch, which formed an integral part of the original project plan.

Das Burma claimed that repeated changes in alignment, cancellation of multiple tenders, and administrative delays have hindered the project’s progress. He further alleged that earlier tender processes were initiated without adequate financial approvals, creating unrealistic expectations among the people of Odisha.

He noted that environmental concerns relating to ecologically sensitive regions such as Chilika Lake and Bhitarkanika had posed challenges to the project, but said people had expected the original vision of a comprehensive coastal corridor connecting Odisha’s entire coastline to be implemented.

The BJD leader also questioned the status of the Capital Region Ring Road and Rameswar–Chandanpur National Highway projects, both announced in 2015. He sought clarification from the Central Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) regarding the progress of these projects and the future roadmap for the unapproved sections of the Coastal Highway.

“People of Odisha cannot be shown dreams indefinitely. What is needed is tangible development. The Centre should revisit the original Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Gopalpur-to-Digha Coastal Highway and ensure its implementation in its entirety,” Das Burma said.

He asserted that completion of the full Coastal Highway project would significantly boost tourism, trade, industry, and overall socio-economic development across Odisha’s coastal belt.

BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty was also present during the press conference.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda