Bhubaneswar: The state govt has asked urban development agencies, local bodies and planning authorities to identify and prioritise ring roads and bypass projects around urban centres in line with a new Union govt policy that aims to decongest national highways (NHs), while promoting planned urban expansion.In a letter to the housing and urban development department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, the principal secretary of the works department, stated, “The ministry of road transport and highways has framed a policy to address growing congestion on highways passing through cities and towns. The policy seeks to combine highway development with urban planning.”The letter noted that many existing bypasses and ring roads developed across the country were not access-controlled, resulting in congestion over time. “Non-access-controlled bypasses or ring roads have led to ribbon development and renewed congestion, reducing the benefits of NH investments,” the communication stated.According to the policy, all future urban NH bypasses and ring roads should be developed as fully access-controlled corridors with a minimum four-lane configuration to maintain design speeds of 100 to 120 kmph. Access will be permitted only through designated interchanges and slip roads linked to highways and major roads.The state govt, while forwarding the policy, highlighted that it is aimed at decongesting roads and highways in and around urban agglomerations, improving logistics efficiency and reducing transportation costs, supporting industrial and economic growth by unlocking development potential and enhancing the overall quality of life for urban residents.One of the most significant provisions is the creation of a 15-metre no-development green zone on either side of new bypasses and ring roads and a regulated development zone extending up to 2km from the corridor, where residential, commercial, industrial and institutional development would be controlled through planning regulations.The policy also prescribes wider right-of-way standards. Cities with populations above five lakh and the state capitals are expected to acquire a minimum 60 to 75-metre right of way, while district headquarters and towns with populations between one lakh and five lakh would require 45 to 60-metre corridors.The works department said the policy aims to promote access-controlled NH corridors, planned urban development, Gati Shakti-based integrated planning and state govt’s partnership to achieve sustainable urban decongestion, efficient logistics and improved mobility.The Centre has also laid down a framework for prioritising projects based on city population, urban sprawl, traffic congestion levels, economic importance and state govt priorities. A memorandum of understanding between the Union ministry and the state govt will be required before projects are taken up for appraisal, sources said.The works department has requested the housing and urban development department to disseminate the policy among all agencies and field units under its control for the identification, prioritisation and construction of ring roads and bypasses in or around urban agglomerations in line with the policy objectives.