Bhubaneswar: The city's ring road project is inching closer to reality after the housing and urban development department approved the proposed modification in the comprehensive development plan required to go ahead with the project.

The modification was proposed by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority last June and a notification in this regard was issued, inviting objections and inputs from affected people in the area. After settling all disputes, the development authority has now received the nod from the government.

The road project will affect people in 67 mouzas. "We had issued the notification and asked people to approach us with their objections. It is a usual process before acquiring any land for government projects," said a development authority official.

The proposed 65km ring road needs around 760 acres. Of this, 690 acres is private land and the rest belongs to the government. The development authority will spend Rs 1,200 crore on the project. The aim is to ease commutes for the people of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is one of the stakeholders in the project.

The ring road will connect Nandankanan in the north to Pahala in the east, Dahuli in the south to Tamando in the west. Sources said the development authority will float a tender after the government approval.

"Everything is on track now. We will shortly invite proposals from bidders to execute the project. If all goes according to plan, the project will be completed in two years after finalisation of the tender. In the meantime, we will also go for land acquisition," said another development authority official.