Puri: The expansion of National Highway-316 connecting Puri with the state capital Bhubaneswar has begun, with the aim of making travel between the two cities faster, smoother and more convenient. As part of the initial phase, soil testing and technical surveys are currently underway to upgrade the existing highway into a six-lane road. The testing is being carried out in areas including Pattanaikia, Satashankha and Chandanpur by Geo Design and Research.
Following the completion of the tests, a proposal for land acquisition is expected to be initiated soon. The next stages are also likely to include the removal of encroachments along the highway. The proposed expansion will cover approximately 66 km of road. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce travel time between Puri and Bhubaneswar, with officials anticipating that the journey could take around 45 to 50 minutes. There are also plans to acquire additional land to widen certain stretches of the national highway to eight lanes. Puri, one of the major Hindu pilgrimage destinations and an internationally renowned tourist centre, attracts thousands of tourists and devotees from across the country throughout the year. A large number of visitors travel to the holy city via the Puri-Bhubaneswar National Highway using cars, buses and other vehicles.
Traffic on the highway increases significantly during holidays, festivals, the annual Rath Yatra and other religious occasions. The proposed expansion is expected to ease congestion and improve connectivity between the two important cities of Odisha. Taking these public difficulties into account, the government has decided to upgrade the existing four-lane highway into a six-lane road. The expansion is expected to provide additional space for vehicular movement and ease traffic congestion.
Local resident Basanta Kumar Behera welcomed the proposed expansion, saying that widening the road would provide much-needed relief from traffic congestion. He pointed out that traffic becomes particularly heavy during Rath Yatra and other festivals, creating serious difficulties for commuters. He also stressed that people affected by the project should be provided with proper rehabilitation and adequate compensation. Puri District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida said that soil testing for the proposed six-lane Puri-Bhubaneswar highway has already commenced. A proposal for land acquisition is expected to be submitted shortly, and preparations are underway in this regard.