The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a new coastal highway project from Rameshwar to Paradeep in Odisha, with a total investment of ₹8,300.79 crore. This project will cover a distance of 160.18 km and is structured under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). It will traverse through the districts of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur, addressing existing infrastructure challenges along the current NH-16 highway, which suffers from poor road geometry and high local commuter traffic. The new highway will feature a 4-lane configuration from Rameshwar to Konark and a 2-lane design with paved shoulders from Konark to Paradeep, allowing for a design speed of 100 km/h. This initiative aligns with the PM GatiShakti principles, enhancing regional mobility and socio-economic development by connecting 9 Economic Nodes and 5 Logistic Nodes. Upon completion, the highway is anticipated to reduce travel time by about 2 hours and 30 minutes, while also decreasing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.