BHUBANESWAR: The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to a ‘new city development’ plan which proposes creation of a modern and inclusive urban hub within the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA) to absorb pressure of rapid urbanisation and growing population of the state capital.
The project will cover approximately 800 acre of land across Gothapatna, Malipada and Daspur mouzas of the city.
The cabinet projected a total investment of Rs 8,179 crore over the next 15 years for the project, including public and private funding. An initial allocation of Rs 1,342 crore has been proposed from the state budget for the first five years between 2025-26 and 2029-30.
The funds will be utilised for land acquisition, road construction, core utility infrastructure, public amenities and administrative contingencies.
Addressing mediapersons after the cabinet meeting, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said a significant milestone in the implementation of the project was achieved with the signing of an MoU between Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Surbana Jurong Infrastructure Private Ltd (SJI) of Singapore on January 17 in the presence of the President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam and the chief minister.
Under this partnership, SJI will provide consultancy services for preparing the master plan and advisory support for urban infrastructure development in the greenfield township.
Planned as a multi-economic growth zone aligned with the state’s long term development vision ‘Viksit Odisha 2036’, the new city will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facilities, innovation based plug-and-play hubs and data management centres.
The new city has been planned as a transit-oriented development, focusing on efficient public transport, reduced travel distances and seamless access to a well-integrated mix of land uses.
It also aims to ensure ‘housing for all’ by offering diverse housing options for all income groups based on affordability and necessity.
The chief secretary said special emphasis will be placed on creative place making, with the design of central forest parks, gateway plazas and ample public open spaces to foster community engagement to meet the social needs of residents. Besides, the project will also integrate smart and green infrastructure solutions to enhance climate resilience, environmental sustainability and the overall well-being of citizens.
BDA has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme, which is currently in various stages of planning and early execution.