**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4830, answered on August 21, 2025, regarding National Highways (NHs) in Odisha, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) provides the following information. On November 10, 2015, the Ministry granted "in-principle" NH approval to certain road stretches in Odisha. Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation was initiated through the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) and the State Public Works Department of Government of Odisha. However, in July 2020, the Government decided to foreclose all such consultancy assignments. Reports submitted by consultants were shared with the State Government for their reference and utilization, should the State Government intend to develop those stretches through their own resources. All six consultancy assignments have been closed by the Government. This response addresses questions regarding the completion of DPRs, the current status of road segments concerning formal NH declaration, and the expediting of the declaration process and implementation of these roads as NHs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways network.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Shri Avimanyu Sethi: Member of Parliament who asked the unstarred question regarding National Highways in Odisha.
National Highways (NHs): A network of highways that run through the length and breadth of India.
Odisha: A state in eastern India where the road stretches in question are located.
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs): Comprehensive reports containing detailed plans for the development or improvement of infrastructure projects, in this case, road stretches.
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who provided the answer to the question in Lok Sabha.
Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE): An academy involved in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports for National Highways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4830
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST, 2025
NHs IN ODISHA
4830. SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has completed the Detailed Project
Reports (DPRs)for the road stretches in Odisha that were granted “in-
principle” approval as National Highways (NHs) vide letter dated
November 10, 2015 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the current status of each of these road segments with regard to
formal declaration as NH;
(c) whether the Government would issue necessary instructions for
expediting the declaration process and the implementation of these
roads as NH and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons for delay in final declaration despite DPR
consultants having been appointed?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways has earlier granted "in-principle" National Highways
(NHs) approval to certain road stretches in Odisha on November 10,
2015 and preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) was initiatedthrough the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) and the
State Public Works Department of Government of Odisha. In July
2020, Government has decided to foreclose all such consultancy
assignments and decided to share the reports submitted by
consultants with State Government for their reference/utilization if
State Government intend to develop those stretches through their own
resources. All six consultancy assignments have been closed by the
Government.
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