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Bhubaneswar, once hailed as an affordable and livable urban centre, is now grappling with a growing housing crisis. With property prices in the state capital regularly breaching the Rs 1 crore mark, home ownership has become an unattainable dream for many middle-class and low-income residents.
To address it, the Odisha government is drawing up an ambitious plan to provide residential units in the Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh range.
According to The New Indian Express, the Housing and Urban Development Department aims to cater to various income groups through low-income group (LIG) and middle-income group (MIG) housing. These units will be developed within Bhubaneswar as well as in its newly proposed expanded periphery.
‘Greater Bhubaneswar’ Vision Gains Momentum
The reports come amid the state’s larger blueprint for Bhubaneswar’s expansion. With the city’s population growing rapidly, authorities are increasingly concerned about overburdened infrastructure, limited land availability, and rising congestion.
To tackle these issues, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is moving forward with the Town Planning Scheme (TPS), which is expected to widen the city’s boundaries and incorporate new zones for residential, commercial, and public use.
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Improving Connectivity and Decongesting the Capital
The Odisha government has also announced plans to decongest Bhubaneswar’s traffic system by constructing flyovers at key intersections and replacing outdated traffic light systems.
Further, the public transport network will see a boost with the proposed addition of more city buses, extending coverage to the city's outskirts and newly developed zones.
Efforts are also underway to integrate Bhubaneswar with its twin city of Cuttack, along with Puri, under a proposed Tri-City development model.
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The convergence of unchecked growth, unaffordable housing, and infrastructural limitations has put immense pressure on the city’s future. However, with bold expansion plans, renewed focus on affordable housing, and systemic urban upgrades, the Odisha government is attempting to steer the capital into a more inclusive and sustainable phase of development.
