Odisha Gets Major Infrastructure Boost as Cabinet Approves Coastal Highway

The Union Cabinet has approved the long-awaited Odisha Coastal Highway project, aimed at improving connectivity across the state's cyclone-prone coastal regions. Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project fulfills a key BJP-NDA manifesto promise and addresses a longstanding demand of Odisha. The highway will connect major economic, tourism, pilgrimage, and port hubs, including Puri, Chilika Lake, and Paradip Port, while supporting local industries such as fishing, betel cultivation, and paddy farming. The project is expected to boost economic growth, tourism, and disaster resilience along Odisha's coastline.