In a major development for Odisha, the Central Government has given its nod to four significant national highway projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 14,000 crore.

The approval came during a meeting between chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.

The chief minister requested Gadkari to consider Odisha’s proposal for six-laning of 60 km-long Bhubaneswar-Puri highway at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore, 200 km of Chandikhole-Barbil at Rs 10,000 crore, four-laning of 54 km-long Khurda-Nayagarh (NH-57) at Rs 1,100 crore and four-laning of 46 km of Kesinga-Junagarh (NH-26) at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

It was decided that the ministry will take steps for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) of the four projects.

The chief minister informed Gadkari that Rs 2,500 crore has been sanctioned for two-laning of 246 km Koraput-Podamari project (NH-326) while Rs 500 crore has been disbursed this year under the Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and additional funds if required will be sanctioned.