Cuttack Ring Road Set for Major Upgrade: Rs 245 Crore Project to Begin After Monsoon

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Cuttack is all set to get a major road makeover. The Odisha Works Department has announced a plan to widen a key 7-kilometre stretch of the ring road, from Khannagar to Judicial Academy Chhak, into a six-lane corridor. The project, which will run along the Kathajodi River, comes with a budget of Rs 245 crore.

The main goal of the project is to reduce heavy traffic on the city’s roads and improve transport links. Construction is expected to start after the monsoon season and is likely to be completed within 18 months.

Better Roads, Safer City

The road expansion isn’t just about traffic. The new six-lane corridor will also work as a strong embankment, helping to protect nearby low-lying areas from floods during the rainy season.

Preliminary studies, land surveys, and environmental checks have already been completed. Once done, the new road will make travel easier for people living in nearby residential and institutional areas and give a boost to small businesses by improving access.

Green Touch Along the River

The plan is part of a larger push to upgrade Cuttack’s urban landscape. In April, the Cuttack Development Authority proposed a 200-acre eco-friendly riverfront development along the Kathajodi River near Baranga tehsil.

Over 60% of that area will be used for plantations. The rest will include public parks, open gyms, and playgrounds. This proposal, which is awaiting approval, follows the environmental guidelines set by the National Green Tribunal.

Cuttack’s makeover doesn’t stop at the Kathajodi. Earlier this year, the Odisha government approved the Mahanadi Riverfront project with a total cost of Rs 220 crore. The project is inspired by the famous Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat.

In its first phase, a 3.5-km stretch will be developed at a cost of Rs 38 crore. It will feature parks, heritage villages, and cultural spaces. There are also plans for a 34-acre area dedicated to improving the Baliyatra festival grounds, which will attract more tourists and benefit local businesses.

With these upcoming projects, Cuttack is heading towards a greener, better-connected future—one wide road at a time.