Pioneer mentions that the National Highway Authority of India has given final notification for 4-6 laning of Panikoili-Rajamunda. Following is an excerpt on the same topic from Pragativadi.

 Keonjhar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has notified the four-six laning of the Panikoili-Rajamunda section of the NH-215, under the (National Highway Development Project) NHDP-III.

The notification has asked the district headquarter to undertake the land acquisition along the section of Panikoili in Jajpur district to Rajamunda in Sundergarh except for the section of Rimuli to Guali in Keonjhar district. The land acquisition will be made for a distance totalling 230 km of the total length of 263 km of NH-215 under the National Highways Act, 1956.

The project will be taken up under the BOT (Build -Operate-Transfer) scheme encompassing three revenue districts Keonjhar, Jajpur and Sundargarh. The proposed project was sanctioned by the NHAI in 2004-05 to mainly to cater to the needs of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and due to persistent demands from the state government, especially Lok Sabha member from Keonjhar, Anant Naik.