Bhubaneswar: Work is underway to widen the busy Palasuni bridge to six lanes from the current four to alleviate chronic traffic congestion along this key stretch of National Highway-16 in Bhubaneswar.
Confirming the development, NHAI’s chief general manager (Odisha) Virendra Singh said that expansion work has begun at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, with a completion timeline targeted at one and a half years. “The Palasuni bridge was constructed as a four-lane structure as per the 2007 DPR. We have now awarded a new contract worth Rs 25 crore for expanding the four-lane bridge and the approach road to six lanes,” he told reporters.
In December 2025, the NHAI along with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had removed the slum beneath Palasuni bridge, paving the way for construction of a crucial third bridge over the Gangua Nala to support the widening at this problematic section, which witnesses frequent fatal accidents and heavy traffic congestion during peak hours.
In November 2024, a pedestrian crossing the highway with a bag full of vegetables awas fatally run over by a speeding truck. A few months prior top that, an accident involving a pile-up of multiple vehicles occurred. Stray animal-related accidents too are frequent at this site.
Complementing the road expansion, NHAI has also announced plans for Odisha’s first covered skywalk, a 500-metre elevated pedestrian walkway connecting Palasuni with Rasulgarh, at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore. Equipped with modern features like proper lighting, multiple exits, and secure pathways, the skywalk is designed to improve pedestrian safety amid heavy vehicular traffic and prevent jaywalking-related disruptions.
Together, the six-lane widening and skywalk projects are expected to provide comprehensive, long-term relief by streamlining vehicle movement, minimising bottlenecks, and enhancing overall connectivity and road safety on this national highway segment passing through Bhubaneswar.
