Chhattisgarh
Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor
- 08 Dec 2025
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, spans Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and is being built at a cost of ₹16,482 crore.
Key Points
- About: Built through 15 packages across three states, the corridor reflects the Ministry’s long-term vision of creating infrastructure that enhances mobility, connectivity and opportunities for millions.
- Infrastructure Improvement: The new 6-lane, access-controlled corridor will ease congestion on the existing 2-lane NH-26, offering safer, more predictable travel at design speeds of 100 km/hr.
- Travel Efficiency: The corridor will reduce the existing 597 km route to 465 km, saving 132 km and nearly seven hours of travel time, cutting the journey from about 12 hours to just five.
- Faster travel will significantly lower fuel consumption, transportation costs and operational expenses for both public and freight operators.
- Industrial Boost: Industries in Chhattisgarh and Odisha will benefit from direct connectivity to Visakhapatnam Port and the Chennai–Kolkata National Highway, enabling quicker exports and smoother supply chains.
- Regional Development: The project is expected to stimulate tourism, job creation, real estate development and overall economic growth across the connected regions.
- Community Benefits: Farmers, transporters and local residents anticipate major gains, including lower logistics costs, faster produce deliveries and sharply rising land values near the corridor.
- Tribal Connectivity: Remote and tribal districts such as Dhamtari, Keshkal, Kanker, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Araku will gain far better access to markets, services and mainstream economic opportunities.
