To realize the vision of “Prosperous Odisha 2036,” the Odisha Government is continuously working to strengthen the state’s economy. The government is focusing on the development of key infrastructure sectors such as ports, roads, railways, and air transport. In this direction, a “Comprehensive Infrastructure Master Plan” is being prepared, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

He made this statement while attending the inauguration ceremony of the 84th Indian Road Congress held in Bhubaneswar today. The event was inaugurated jointly by the Chief Minister and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari.

In his address, the Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has witnessed rapid progress in the road construction sector. From Independence till 2014, only 91,000 km of national highways were built, whereas between 2014 and 2024, 55,000 km have been constructed — marking a new milestone in India’s infrastructure development.

He further mentioned that the Odisha Government has implemented the State Road Policy–2025 and the State Highway Authority Act–2025, which will further strengthen the state’s long-term road planning framework.

For the financial year 2025–26, the Central Government has approved national highway projects worth ₹13,069 crore for Odisha. In addition, 19 road projects worth ₹4,000 crore have been launched, and 13 projects worth ₹9,000 crore have also been sanctioned.

The state has set a target to construct 75,000 kilometers of roads in the next five years. Union Minister Gadkari is emphasizing efforts to upgrade Odisha’s roads to world-class standards.

On this occasion, Gadkari announced a “Central Road Infrastructure Fund” of ₹1,000 crore for Odisha and suggested utilizing Bhubaneswar’s solid waste in road construction to help build a “Clean Bhubaneswar.”