The congested Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan corridor is set for a major transformation as the Odisha Works Department moves to redesign the busy road using Chandigarh’s traffic-planning model.
Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced that the 17.5-km stretch will be reorganised with a high-capacity central carriageway for through traffic and dedicated service roads on both sides for local commuters.
The proposed design aims to separate fast-moving and long-distance vehicles from local traffic entering markets, residential areas, institutions and commercial establishments along the corridor.
Chandigarh Model for Bhubaneswar
Harichandan said he studied Chandigarh’s traffic-management system during a recent visit. The city’s arterial roads remain relatively free-flowing because they are supported by planned service roads and an integrated ring-road network.
Drawing from that model, Odisha plans to reduce traffic conflicts along the Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan route by creating separate movement channels for through traffic and local access.
Long-distance vehicles will use the central carriageway, while commuters accessing nearby establishments and neighbourhoods will be directed through the service roads.
The planned segregation is expected to reduce conflicts at intersections, ease congestion and improve travel time along one of Bhubaneswar’s most heavily used routes.
Relief for Thousands of Daily Commuters
The corridor carries office commuters, institutional traffic, local residents and vehicles travelling towards the northern outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
Rapid urban expansion, new residential developments and growing commercial activity have placed the existing road under considerable pressure. Traffic congestion has become particularly severe during morning and evening peak hours.
The new road arrangement seeks to provide a long-term solution by increasing capacity while allowing safer and more organised access to properties along the route.
Tender Process Put on Fast Track
Harichandan said the tender process is expected to be completed by February 25, placing the ambitious road-modernisation plan on a fast track.
The announcement follows the foundation-stone ceremony for the elevated corridor between Jayadev Vihar and Nandankanan.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stone for the ₹952-crore project, which will be implemented by Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited.
Wider Service Roads and Slip Roads Planned
The Works Department has planned 5.5-metre-wide service roads on both sides of the approximately 17.5-km main corridor.
The project will also include 7.5-metre-wide slip roads covering an approximate combined length of nine kilometres. These roads will help vehicles enter and leave the main corridor without disrupting through traffic.
The combination of the elevated corridor, service roads and slip roads is expected to create a more efficient traffic system for the rapidly developing northern part of Bhubaneswar.
Harichandan Pushes Modern Urban Mobility
By adapting a proven planning model to Bhubaneswar’s requirements, Harichandan has placed modern traffic engineering at the centre of the city’s road-development strategy.
The project reflects a shift from temporary congestion-management measures towards planned infrastructure that separates different categories of traffic.
Once implemented, the Chandigarh-inspired design could reshape daily travel between Jayadev Vihar and Nandankanan, providing faster movement, safer local access and a more organised road network for one of Odisha’s fastest-growing urban corridors.