NHAI Asks Odisha to Expedite Forest Approvals for ₹7,500-Cr CRRR Project
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has asked the Odisha government to speed up the approval process for using forest land for two big ring road projects — the Capital Region Ring Road (CRRR) and the Sambalpur Ring Road — together costing over ₹7,500 crore.
In a letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Santosh Kumar Yadav, NHAI Chairman said these projects have already been delayed for more than two years due to slow forest clearance processes. He stated that if the delays continue, it could lead to higher costs and push back the benefits these roads are meant to bring — like better travel, stronger infrastructure, and economic growth.
The CRRR is a 111-km six-lane expressway that will circle Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It’s meant to reduce traffic in the cities and make long-distance travel on NH-16 smoother. The project, worth ₹6,100 crore, was approved under the Bharatmala scheme and will be built in three phases. Land acquisition began in June 2022. This initiative is taken in aim to avoid inconvenience traffic issues on NH-16, including Khurdha, Bhubaneswar, Atthagarh, Cuttack & Choudwar.
The Sambalpur Ring Road is a 35.38-km four-lane road planned around the city to ease congestion and help local industries. It is expected to cost ₹1,333 crore. Land has already been acquired from 19 nearby villages.
However, there is growing concern from environmentalists about the CRRR’s route, which passes through an ecologically sensitive area in Dhenkanal, including the Kapilash elephant sanctuary. Experts warn that around 10 km of the road runs through forest areas that elephants use to move between habitats.
“This route could break up important wildlife zones and lead to more conflict between humans and elephants,” a wildlife researcher said.
As NHAI pushes for quicker approvals, the Odisha government now faces the challenge of balancing development with protecting the environment.
