The Odisha Cabinet has approved a comprehensive ₹32,000 crore package for rural roads, bridges and connectivity initiatives, as reported by Business Standard. The infrastructure push, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, will cover 35,000 km of roads and 3,167 bridges over the next five years. According to Anu Garg, chief secretary, this represents one of the Odisha government's most ambitious long-term interventions in rural infrastructure, with expenditure spread up to 2030-31 depending on individual schemes.
The largest component is the ₹4,000 crore Mukhyamantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY), which will build 4,607.21 km of new roads and complete 115 km of ongoing works over five years. As reported by Business Standard, the government also approved a ₹5,750 crore programme for improving existing rural roads covering around 17,500 km to upgrade the network for growing communication needs. Additionally, the ₹6,700 crore MMSY Transferred Roads Improvement Programme (TRIP) will enhance 25,500 km of roads transferred from Panchayati Raj Department and other departments.
The Cabinet approved the ₹1,917 crore MMSY-Connecting Missing Road Links (CMRL) initiative to bridge inter-block, inter-district and inter-state connectivity gaps, covering 3,850 km of roads and constructing connecting bridges. According to Business Standard, another ₹1,300 crore has been allocated for the MMSY-Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult Areas (CUVDA) programme, focusing on villages in Left Wing Extremism-affected districts and remote locations. The government also approved ₹600 crore for bridge-cum-weir projects to support irrigation and water needs.
The bridge component involves ₹11,800 crore for constructing 1,750 new bridges and completing 1,417 ongoing bridge projects under the Setu Bandhan Yojana, as reported by Business Standard. These schemes are expected to shorten travel distances between blocks and districts while improving connectivity with neighbouring states. The programme originally launched as the Biju Setu Yojana in 2011-12 aims to create an effective all-weather road network across the state.
According to Garg, the government has specifically linked several schemes to improving access to health and education facilities, hospitals, schools, panchayats, markets and other institutions in difficult areas. As reported by Business Standard, the improved connectivity is expected to help integrate remote communities with the mainstream and facilitate movement of people, goods and essential services. The initiatives aim to strengthen rural road networks, fill critical connectivity gaps, and create better links with neighbouring states while supporting irrigation and water needs through bridge-cum-weir projects.
