Odisha Approves ₹30,000 Crore for Rural Roads, Bridges Ahead of Local Polls
In one of the largest state-level rural connectivity initiatives, the Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday approved projects worth nearly ₹30,000 crore. The package includes the development of approximately 50,000 km of rural roads and the construction of about 3,837 bridges and bridge-like structures under the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY).
The Cabinet cleared several proposals under MMSY aimed at strengthening last-mile connectivity across the state. Under the Connecting Missing Road Links (CMRL) component, the government approved ₹1,917 crore for five years (2025–26 to 2029–30) to bridge critical connectivity gaps across blocks, districts, and neighbouring states. This scheme targets the construction of about 3,850 km of roads.
The MMSY — Improvement to Existing RD Roads programme received ₹5,750 crore to upgrade rural development roads over the same period, covering approximately 17,500 km, including completion of ongoing projects. Another component, the new road projects scheme, was approved with ₹4,000 crore for about 4,607 km between 2026–27 and 2030–31.
The largest proposal in terms of coverage is the Transferred Roads Improvement Programme (TRIP), under which ₹6,700 crore will be spent to upgrade about 25,500 km of roads over five years. For difficult terrains, the MMSY — Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult Areas (CUVDA) scheme was approved with an outlay of ₹1,300 crore, aiming to build and improve about 1,150 km of roads while completing 949 km of ongoing works in left wing extremism-affected, hilly, and remote regions.
On the bridges front, the Cabinet approved the extension of the Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY) with a substantial outlay of ₹11,000 crore, facilitating construction of 1,750 new bridges and completion of 1,417 ongoing ones. Additionally, the Bridge-cum-Weir Scheme received approval with a budget of ₹600 crore, covering 508 new projects and completion of 162 ongoing works, aimed at both connectivity and water conservation.
The large-scale infrastructure push comes at a politically significant time, with Odisha heading towards three-tier panchayat and urban local body elections early next year. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will face its first grassroots electoral test in power, while the Biju Janata Dal strives to retain its dominance at the local level. The projects are expected to improve access to markets, education, and healthcare for rural communities, though their full impact will depend on timely execution and maintenance.
