The Ministry of Power addressed Unstarred Question No. 3114 on December 18, 2025, regarding the ownership of the National Highway (NH)-53 stretch from Godibandha Chhak to NTPC Chhak in Angul district, Odisha. The Ministry acknowledges that the highway stretch is owned by NTPC Ltd. However, NTPC Talcher Kaniha has consented on May 26, 2025, to transfer the NTPC-owned road to the NH Division, Palahara, Odisha (Government of Odisha), while retaining 16 meters of land along the NTPC-owned portion for Stage-III of TSTPP, on payment of land compensation basis. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Power who provided the answer is Shri Shripad Naik.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highway (NH)-53: Highway stretch discussed in the question, with ownership issues impacting its development and maintenance.
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC): Current owner of the highway stretch, whose ownership is causing obstacles.
Ministry of Power: The government ministry responsible for addressing the ownership issue of the highway.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Potential future owner of the highway stretch.
Odisha: State where the highway stretch is located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3114
ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025
OWNERSHIP OF NTPC OF NH-53
†3114. SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the highway stretch from Godibandha
Chhak to NTPC Chhak in Angul district in Odisha, which forms part of National
Highway (NH)-53 is facing serious obstacles in development, upgradation or
repair due to ownership being with the National Thermal Power Corporation
Limited (NTPC), Talcher Kaniha Super Thermal Power Project (TSTPP), if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the ownership of this highway stretch can be transferred to the
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any such proposal has been submitted to the National Thermal
Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether a permanent solution is expected to be implemented for this issue,
if so, the details thereof and the manner in which it would be done?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a) to (d) : The Ministry of Power is aware that the ownership of highway
stretch from Godibandha Chhak to NTPC Chhak in Angul district, Odisha is with
NTPC Ltd., which forms part of National Highway (NH)-53. However, NTPC
Talcher Kaniha has conveyed its consent to NH Division, Palahara, Odisha
(Government of Odisha) on 26.05.2025 to transfer the NTPC-owned road, while
retaining 16 meters (in width) of land along the NTPC-owned portion for the
upcoming Stage-III of TSTPP, on payment of land compensation basis.
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