Marine Drive Highway along Central Odisha Coast, India; Feasibility and EIA Inferences

Abstract

The golden sea beaches of Puri district in Odisha state is panoramic and a myriad tourist attractions from India and abroad. The places are famous for their temples of excellence as a part of the Bhartamala project.  The high cost involved could not materialize it. Marine drive road has been completed under National Highways of 35.8km between Puri and Chandrabhaga (Konark) which has been successful and have increased the ecotourism of Odisha. Present study is the extension of the coast line highway project of 29.4km between Chandrabhaga and Nuagaon near Devi river mouth. The Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS) has been undertaken to identify coastal transportation network including environmental impact assessment and including design. The methodologies as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines, and MoRTH specifications, have been adopted to assess thecharacteristics of the traffic,geometric andpavement design of the proposed Coastal road. The flexible pavement technology having seal coat 25mm thick over 20 mm thick premix carpet (B.U.S.G.) over both 300mm thick subbase and base course has been provided. The slope protection works against erosion along with culverts (mostly box or Hume - pipe) and bridges has been designed for the project. Since the high way to run over mostly unmanned sand dunes and only the Prachi River system the project is cost effective and shall surge the economic status of the fisher group and the villagers of the area.