Bhubaneswar Set For Transformation: Odisha's Rs 8,179 Crore Modern Township Plan Explained (Photon on X@AskLipun)
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Odisha government on Wednesday approved a plan to develop a new modern city and urban hub within the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA).
The Rs 8,179 crore project was given the green signal during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Spread across approximately 800 acres of land across Gothapatna, Malipada and Daspur mouzas of the city, the new project is set to transform the city view once the construction is complete.
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The work will be completed in the next 15 years, which involves both public and private funding. The state budget has proposed an initial allocation of Rs 1,342 crore for the first five years between 2025-26 and 2029-30, reports The New Indian Express. The first allocation of funds will be used for land acquisition, road construction, core utility infrastructure, among others.
While the BDA will get fund support from the state government for implementation of the project, the Center is also expected to provide a grant, if the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approves the project. Further, it is exploring private funding and investment options too.
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BDA has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme. As per the agency, the project would be implemented in three phases. The total built-up area planned in the New City is 21.7 million sq ft, comprising 10.45 million sq ft of residential area, 3.10 million sq ft of office space, one million sq ft of retail commerce, 2.40 million sq ft MICE facilities, 2.30 million sq ft industrial area and 2.35 million sq ft neighborhood shopping area.
It is designed to accommodate up to 15,000 housing units and 60,000 people, potentially generating more than one lakh direct and indirect job opportunities. It is being developed by BDA in partnership with Surbana Jurong Infrastructure Private Ltd (SJI) of Singapore. SJI will provide consultancy services for preparing the main plan for the township.
The agency focuses on efficient public transport, reduced travel distances and seamless access to an integrated mix of land uses. It also offers diverse housing options for all income groups based on affordability and necessity.
The project would be a multi-economic growth zone, and would include state-of-the-art infrastructure, including MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facilities, innovation-based plug-and-play hubs and data management centers.
