Bhubaneswar: A new Expressway, connecting Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar with the proposed airport at Puri, is being planned to shorten the distance between the two cities by 9 km and travel time by 30 minutes.
According to sources, there will be no internal roads connecting the highway, which is being designed for a speed of 120 kmph. Besides traffic congestion during peak hours which makes travel tiring, the existing Bhubaneswar-Puri NH 316 witnesses frequent accidents at junctions, connecting the internal roads.
Preliminary survey of the access controlled greenfield roadway has been completed and the Works department has already floated a tender for finalisation of a consultant to conduct a detailed survey, design the six-lane high speed carriageway along with bridges and flyovers. The project would entail an investment of around Rs 3,600 crore and around 1,300 acre of land would be acquired at an estimated Rs 1,010 crore, the TNIE reported, adding that it will also pave way for the proposed metro rail between Bhubaneswar and Puri via Pipili.
However, it has not been decided whether the Expressway will be developed by the state government or the Centre. The government will approach Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which had earlier expressed its interest to develop another road from Bhubaneswar to Puri, once the DRP is completed, the sources added.
