Bhubaneswar, July 15 (UDN): In one of the largest rural infrastructure initiatives in the state’s history, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved a comprehensive package worth nearly ₹30,000 crore for the construction and upgradation of rural roads and bridges across the state.
Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet cleared multiple proposals under the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) and other connectivity programmes, paving the way for the development of nearly 50,000 kilometres of rural roads and the construction of 3,837 bridges and bridge-like structures over the next five years.
The ambitious programme is aimed at strengthening last-mile connectivity, improving access to remote villages, supporting rural economic growth and enhancing transportation infrastructure across Odisha.
Under the Connecting Missing Road Links (CMRL) component of MMSY, the Cabinet approved an outlay of ₹1,917 crore for the period from 2025–26 to 2029–30. The scheme will focus on constructing approximately 3,850 km of roads to bridge critical connectivity gaps between villages, blocks, districts and neighbouring states.
Another major component, Improvement to Existing Rural Development Roads, received ₹5,750 crore to upgrade nearly 17,500 km of existing rural roads while completing ongoing projects during the five-year period.
The Cabinet also sanctioned ₹4,000 crore for the construction of around 4,607 km of new rural roads between 2026–27 and 2030–31, further expanding the state’s road network.
The Transferred Roads Improvement Programme (TRIP) received the highest allocation among the road projects, with ₹6,700 crore earmarked for the improvement of nearly 25,500 km of roads that have been transferred to the Rural Development Department for maintenance and upgradation.
Recognising the need for better connectivity in remote and difficult terrain, the government approved ₹1,300 crore under the Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult Areas (CUVDA) scheme. The programme will develop about 1,150 km of new roads and complete 949 km of ongoing works in left-wing extremism-affected, hilly and inaccessible regions.
To complement the road expansion, the Cabinet also extended the Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY) with an allocation of ₹11,000 crore. The scheme will support the construction of 1,750 new bridges while ensuring the completion of 1,417 ongoing bridge projects, significantly improving year-round connectivity across rivers and streams.
Additionally, the Bridge-cum-Weir Scheme received ₹600 crore for 508 new projects and the completion of 162 ongoing works, with the dual objective of improving transport connectivity and promoting water conservation.
The large-scale investment is expected to generate substantial employment during the construction phase while improving access to education, healthcare, agricultural markets and public services in rural areas. The infrastructure push is also expected to boost economic activity by reducing travel time, lowering transportation costs and strengthening connectivity across Odisha.
With these approvals, the state government has signalled its commitment to accelerating rural development through sustained investment in transport infrastructure, laying the foundation for long-term socio-economic growth across both developed and underserved regions of Odisha.