The 84th Indian Road Congress was formally inaugurated today in Bhubaneswar by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, together with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari.
At the event, the Union Minister announced a central allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for Odisha’s road-infrastructure initiatives through a foundation-stone laying programme. He emphasised the objective of deploying domestic and international best practices in road construction, including the use of approved materials and technologies.
“The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accelerated our progress in the road sector,” the minister observed, highlighting the swift advancements made under his direction.
Chief Minister Majhi stated that since 2014, when the Prime Minister assumed office, India has witnessed significant transformation in road infrastructure, and Odisha is preparing a “Comprehensive Foundation-Master Plan” to realise the goal of a prosperous Odisha by 2036. He also referenced recent legislative measures including the Odisha State Road Policy-2025 and the Odisha State Highways Authority Act-2025, and noted that for FY 2025-26, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 13,069 crore for national highways within the state. He also revealed that 19 projects worth about Rs 4,000 crore are now underway, and 13 more projects worth Rs 9,000 crore have been approved.
The Chief Minister set a target of constructing 75,000 km of roads over the next five years and called for elevating Odisha’s road network to global standards. The Union Minister underlined the critical role of the Indian Road Congress as a knowledge platform for road engineering, research, and innovation, and stressed that the use of hydrogen-based technologies and a focus on road safety will define the future of the sector.
The Secretary in charge of the department, Manoj Ahuja, reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining quality through global-standard practices in road design and execution. Distinguished engineers and researchers were honoured at the event, including the outgoing IRC President Professor Manoranjan Parida, IRC General Secretary Rahul Gupta, and Former Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh.
This significant gathering underscores Odisha’s and India’s joint ambition to transform the nation’s road infrastructure within a knowledge-driven, innovation-oriented framework.
