Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to ongoing efforts to tackle chronic traffic congestion in Odisha capital, the Left Parallel Road (LPR), a key component of Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan decongestion initiative, is set to open for public use by April 30.
Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan visited the project site near Salia Sahi on Tuesday and directed officials to fast-track remaining construction activities. He emphasised that the new road would serve as a vital alternative artery, significantly improving traffic flow and easing movement for commuters in high-density areas including CRPF Chowk, Utkal Hospital, Infosys, and KIIT. “The LPR will be a major artery to solve the prevailing traffic problem in the city and make the movement of people easier and smoother,” the minister stated during the review.
He was accompanied by senior officials, including Chief Engineer (Roads) Dhyan Chand Nayak and Chief Construction Engineer Manoj Mahanand from the Works and Urban Development departments.
The 13-km LPR, connecting CRP Square to Nandankanan, has faced nearly a decade of delays primarily due to land acquisition challenges and encroachments. While substantial portions of the roadway were completed years ago, a critical one-km stretch near Salia Sahi, part of the city’s largest slum, remained stalled until a major eviction drive by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleared the path. Over 500 houses were demolished to resolve the bottleneck.
This project forms part of a broader, ambitious Capital Road Development Programme aimed at addressing Bhubaneswar’s growing traffic woes for the next several decades. The plan includes 37 new roads, ring roads, flyovers, and related infrastructure to handle rising commercial, institutional, and residential demands. Complementary elements include a proposed elevated corridor along the Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan stretch, with flyovers planned at key junctions such as Jayadev Vihar Square, Kalinga Hospital Square, Damana Square, and KIIT Square for signal-free travel.
There also has been progress in the Right Parallel Road (RPR) being executed by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). Around 4 km of the 6.5-km stretch from the New Government Colony road to Kalarahanga Square has been completes. The remaining 2.5-km section between Guru Kelucharan Park and Patia railway station has lagged due to land issues in mouzas such as Gadakana, Patia, and Chandrasekharpur. The BDA is now actively pursuing land acquisition to push this forward.
Together, these parallel roads, alongside service road concepts inspired by models like Chandigarh’s layout, are expected to provide seamless alternate routes, reduce pressure on the main Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan corridor, and support long-term urban mobility in Bhubaneswar.
