Parliament Question: Status of roads in Southern parts of Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1389 ANSWERED ON - 11/02/2026 STATUS OF ROADS IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF ODISHA 1389. DR. SASMIT PATRA: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that districts such as Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Rayagada continue to suffer from poor National and State Highway connectivity; (b) the details of highway projects sanctioned, delayed or stalled in these districts during the last two years; (c) whether land acquisition, forest clearance or fund delays have contributed to cost overruns and slow progress; and (d) what time-bound steps are being taken to improve road connectivity as a prerequisite for development in Odisha’s tribal regions? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) in the country. The planning and development of NHs is undertaken based on traffic demand, connectivity requirements, regional development considerations and the existing National Highway network, and accordingly the NH network in the concerned districts in the State of Odisha, have been planned to meet present connectivity needs. In the State of Odisha, the total length of National Highways is about 5,872 km, spread across all 30 districts. Out of this, the approximate National Highway length is 156 km in Gajapati, 143 km in Malkangiri, 233 km in Kandhamal and 109 km in Rayagada, aggregating to about 641 km in these four districts. (b) The details of NH projects sanctioned, delayed or stalled in the districts of Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kandhamal & Rayagada during last two years are annexed.(c) Delays in land acquisition issues and forest clearances have impacted the pace of execution of certain projects and contributed to time overruns. Further, non-availability of funds and funding constraints have not contributed to slow progress or cost implications. (d) Development of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous process and planning is done to improve connectivity to aspirational districts, tribal districts, industrial centers, tourist centers, heritage sites, etc. Periodic meetings are being held at various levels to resolve issues hampering progress and to ensure timely improvement of road connectivity in these regions.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1389 FOR 11-02-2026 ASKED BY DR. SASMIT PATRA REGARDING STATUS OF ROADS IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF ODISHA District Length Date of Sanctioned S.N Name of Project Status covered (Km) sanction cost (Cr.) Rehabilitation of Railway Over Bridge at Rayagada from km 202/175 to 202/790 and Nagavali 1 Rayagada 0.830 18.11.2024 3.45 Under progress River bridge from km 192/797 to 193/050 of NH-326 under item rate contract in the State of Odisha Construction of bypass road to Rayagada town and J. K. Pur town 2 on NH-326 in the state of Odisha Rayagada 12.72 17.10.2023 323.76 Under bid stage on EPC mode under Annual Plan 2023-24. Widening and strengthening of Daringbadi ghat portion from km 231.000 to 256.000 (Design Kandhamal 3 chainage from km 229.500 to 26.970 04.03.2024 718.26 Under bid stage & Ganjam 256.468) of NH-59 on HAM in Annual Plan 2023-24 for the State of Odisha Construction of major bridge over Nagavali river on NH-326 at ch 4 Rayagada 1.14 17.02.2025 30.42 Under bid stage 192.380 in the state of Odisha on EPC mode for the year 2024-25 Construction of Mahendra Tanaya Bridge at km 92.250 on NH-326A 5 Gajapati 2.30 19.03.2025 53.37 Under bid stage in the state of Odisha on EPC mode for the year 2024-25 Balance work of construction of 5 HL bridge at km 379/010 (Pangam), km 439/400 (Potteru), km 444/237 (Kongurukonda), km 6 457/075 (MV-90), and km 468/150 Malkangiri 9.46 15.10.2025 80.16 Under bid stage (MV-96) on NH-326, along the Malkangiri–motu road in the state of Odisha on EPC mode under Annual Plan 2025-26. Construction of 5 HL Bridges at km Due to slow progress of 379/000 (Pangam), km 439/400 the contractor, the work (Potteru), km 444/237 has been terminated. 7 (Kongurukonda), km 457/075 (MV- Malkangiri 9.72 31.03.2021 154.05 Balance work has been 90) and km 468/150 (MV-96) of sanctioned and is under NH-326 (Malkangiri-Motu Road) in bid stage. the state of Odisha. *****