The Odisha government has unveiled a comprehensive and forward-looking roadmap under its new State Road Policy 2025. With an ambitious target to construct 75,000 km of roads over the next five years, the state is aiming to balance rapid infrastructure growth with sustainability and equitable development.
This policy seeks to address not just the physical dimensions of connectivity, but the larger concerns of climate adaptation, public safety, and rural inclusivity. The policy, rolled out by the Works Department, articulates a vision that goes beyond traditional highway expansion. It introduces a layered and inclusive strategy where road development is classified not by ownership, but by geographical relevance—urban or non-urban. The emphasis is on delivering resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding climatic extremes, with specific mandates to build all-weather roads to connect every habitation with a population of 100 or more by 2028. This rural outreach, if achieved, will mark a transformative milestone for last-mile connectivity in the state’s hinterlands, empowering communities through mobility and access to services.
Equally important is the policy’s deep integration of environmental and safety frameworks. In areas vulnerable to floods and cyclones, roads will be elevated and designed with adequate culverts to manage stormwater. Industrial and mining corridors—critical to Odisha’s economic engine—will be developed into six-lane highways with parallel service roads and utility corridors. The government has mandated that roads experiencing traffic loads exceeding 7,500 passenger car units daily be prioritised for four-lane upgrades, a move likely to reduce congestion and fuel emissions. The construction strategy takes a marked shift from volume to value, where bridges and flyovers will be executed with aesthetics and material optimisation in mind, blending functionality with sustainability.
Safety remains a core concern. The policy enforces mandatory road safety audits at every project stage and tasks the Odisha Road Safety Society with identifying and resolving accident-prone black spots annually. This action-oriented approach to safety reflects a growing understanding that infrastructure must protect as much as it connects. Furthermore, the coordination with agencies like the Water Resources Department and the Inland Waterways Authority of India for bridge planning aims to eliminate bureaucratic delays while ensuring regulatory compliance. These collaborative frameworks mark a maturing of governance mechanisms, placing transparency and efficiency at the heart of project execution.
The policy also underscores Odisha’s strategic commitment to climate goals. As cities grapple with carbon emissions from transport networks, the state’s focus on green engineering and environmentally responsible planning could serve as a model for others. By fusing aesthetics, resilience, and inclusivity, Odisha’s road network is being reimagined not just as a means to travel, but as a conduit for social equity and ecological stewardship. If implemented with sincerity, this policy could position Odisha as a frontrunner in India’s journey toward zero-carbon, people-first infrastructure—where growth and green go hand in hand.
Odishas sustainable road vision blends safety access and climate resilience
