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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon begin the land acquisition process for the Odisha coastal highway project. NHAI told the media that it has written to the district collectors of Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Kendrapada to build a competent authority for land acquisition (CALA) for the significant infrastructure project. Ram Prasad Panda, chief general manager, NHAI, Bhubaneswar, told the media that in the first phase, land procurement for the Tangi-Ratanpur extent would begin following the formation of the CALA by the concerned district collectors at their end. Though the Rs 7,500 crore coastal highway was initially offered to link Gopalpur in Ganjam to Digha in West Bengal, the alignment (planned path) has now been modified because of environmental matters. The project planned under the Bharatmala Pariyojana of the government will now begin from NH-16 near Tangi in Khurda district and be made in two stretches - Tangi-Ratanpur and Ratanpur-Digha. While the total project length, declared by Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in April 2015, was 451 km initially, it has now been decreased by about 72 km. The terms of reference (ToR) of the planned stretch has already received the permission of several competent authorities. The NHAI has proposed to invite bids for the project's implementation after the land purchase process commences by March next year, a top NHAI official told the media. The length of the planned Tangi-Ratanpur stretch, which will cross via Puri, Konark, Astarang, Naugaon and Paradip Port and end at Ratanpur, is about 177 km. The project will also render connectivity to approximately 100 villages in Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Kendrapara districts. Approximately 797 hectares of land, comprising 542 hectares of private area, will be obtained for the Tangi-Ratanpur stretch. The project will pass via 11 rivers. The NHAI has proposed to construct 20 major and 69 minor bridges as part of the project. The Puri-Konark marine drive will also be a part of the plan. Initially, environmentalists had raised questions about the project since it was moving through the Balukhanda sanctuary and some of Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites. But now, the alignment has been modified. The ToR for the Ratanpur-Digha stretch of the coastal highway project is anticipated shortly. Image Source Also read: Land acquisition for Delhi-Mumbai expressway airport link soon