News Brief
Odisha's Major Urban Move: Connecting Puri, Bhubaneswar, Paradip To Form 7000 Sq Km Mega-Metro Region
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi (Representative Image)
The Odisha government has announced plans to develop a mega metropolitan region that will integrate six major cities — Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Jatani, Paradip, and Puri into a unified urban expanse spread over 7,000 sq km.
The idea was presented by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on Saturday (24 May), OTV reported.
This expansive vision forms the core of Odisha’s strategy to increase its urbanisation rate from the current 17 per cent to 40 per cent by 2036 and a striking 60 per cent by 2047.
It also aligns with the state’s broader economic goals of achieving a $500 billion economy by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047.
A key driver behind this transformation is the proposed expansion of Bhubaneswar.
The city is presently grappling with urban congestion, rising housing costs, and ageing infrastructure.
To counter these issues, the government plans to bring more areas under the Town Planning Scheme and extend Bhubaneswar’s administrative limits.
The metropolitan blueprint aims not only for physical expansion but also for a model of urban efficiency by integrating local administrative units and corporations. The much-discussed Tri-City project connecting Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri is expected to form the heart of this new mega-metro.
