Bhubaneswar: The Centre has sanctioned more than Rs 769 crore for 10 major road and infrastructure projects in Odisha under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for the 2026-27 financial year, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi shared on social media on Thursday.Majhi said the approval would bring a revolutionary change in connectivity across several districts and help integrate remote areas with urban centres and the coast. “These projects will greatly benefit people living in marginal and remote areas, while also strengthening urban infrastructure,” Majhi said in the post on X.Among the major projects cleared are the upgradation of the Semiliguda–Handiput and Lamtaput–Machkund roads in Koraput. In a major urban intervention, two state-of-the-art flyovers will be constructed at Tata Benz Chowk and Giri Road Junction in Berhampur to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.The projects will improve road access in the tribal-dominated southern region. The CRIF package also includes widening of the Umerkote–-Chandahandi–-Malgaon road in Nabarangpur and the Khariar Road–-Amodi–-Beltukri road in Nuapada, both crucial corridors for regional connectivity and movement of goods.In western Odisha, new road links and connectivity upgrades have been approved in Jharsuguda, including the Dalgaon–Tilia road, Charpali–Dangaghat road and the approach road to the Rampela bridge. “These projects are expected to improve access to industrial and mining belts as well as rural habitations,” the CM said.Similarly, in Gajapati, the Ramgiri–Jirang–Narayanpur road and Adaba-Paniganda road will be widened, improving inter-district connectivity and access to basic services. In Balasore, the Jaleswar–Batgram–Chandaneswar road will be upgraded to strengthen links with border areas and pilgrimage centres, according to the CM.Officials said the projects, spanning from the state’s hinterland to the coast, are expected to create new opportunities in education, healthcare and commerce for communities. “The state govt is committed to ensuring timely and quality implementation of all the approved works,” Majhi said.
