₹30,000 crore rural infrastructure boost: Odisha to build 50,000 km roads ahead of polls

Published 15 July 2026 · politics

In one of the largest state-level rural connectivity pushes ahead of the upcoming local body elections, the Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan

In one of the largest state-level rural connectivity pushes ahead of the upcoming local body elections, the Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) approved projects worth nearly ₹30,000 crore. The ambitious package includes the development of around 50,000 km of rural roads and the construction of about 3,837 bridges and bridge-like structures. Also read | Odisha to make its roads ‘disaster resilient’ as part of ₹1000 crore project The Cabinet cleared a series of proposals under the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY), aimed at strengthening last-mile connectivity across the state. Under MMSY — Connecting Missing Road Links (CMRL), 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.

The scheme targets the construction of approximately 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 five-year period. The initiative will cover about 17,500 km and includes completion of ongoing projects. In another component of MMSY, the Cabinet approved ₹4,000 crore for new road projects spanning about 4,607 km between 2026–27 and 2030–31. The largest road development proposal in terms of coverage is the MMSY — Transferred Roads Improvement Programme (TRIP), under which ₹6,700 crore will be spent to upgrade approximately 25,500 km of roads over five years.

Focusing on difficult terrains, the MMSY — Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult Areas (CUVDA) scheme was approved with an outlay of ₹1,300 crore. It aims 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. The scheme will facilitate 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. While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will face its first grassroots electoral test in power, the Biju Janata Dal is striving to retain its dominance at the local level.