The Odisha coastal highway project, long-awaited and first conceived in 2015, has become a fresh battleground between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A day after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the project, both parties exchanged accusations on Thursday, each blaming the other for the years of delay.
BJD's Allegations
Addressing journalists in Bhubaneswar, BJD vice-president and former minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma reminded that Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, during a visit to Odisha on July 9, 2015, had announced plans for a 451-kilometer coastal highway linking Gopalpur in Ganjam district with Digha in West Bengal. Das Burma stated, "After 11 years of delay, the Centre has now approved only two stretches—from Rameshwar in Khurda district to Konark in Puri, and from Konark to Paradip in Jagatsinghpur. The exclusion of Bhadrak and Balasore districts, covering the stretch from Paradip to Digha, has deeply disappointed the people of Odisha."
The BJD alleged that repeated changes in the alignment, cancellation of tenders, and administrative neglect stalled the project. Das Burma added, "Earlier tenders floated without financial approval were nothing but attempts to mislead the people. Environmental objections in the Chilika and Bhitarkanika eco-sensitive zones also created repeated hurdles."
BJP's Counter
The BJP dismissed the charges, instead blaming the previous Naveen Patnaik-led government. Works and law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, "While in office, the BJD government was intolerant towards development. Though the Centre tried to finalise the alignment, the previous state government kept opposing it and refused to cooperate, which delayed the project."
Harichandan further alleged that the delay was the result of a "conspiracy" by the previous government. "After BJP formed the government in Odisha two years ago, we expedited the process of finalising the alignment and securing approval. The project was initially planned to link Gopalpur, but had to be shifted to Rameshwar because of the non-cooperation of the previous government," he said.
Background of the Project
The coastal highway project was first conceived in 2015 with the aim of boosting connectivity and economic development along Odisha's coast. However, it faced numerous hurdles, including environmental concerns in the Chilika and Bhitarkanika eco-sensitive zones, as well as changes in alignment and tendering issues. The project's approval now covers only two stretches, leaving out key districts in northern Odisha.
