Odisha’s urban transformation: State govt expands town planning scheme to 3 new cities

The government of Odisha is all set to expand its successful urban planning scheme to three additional cities, aiming to emulate the transformative development witnessed in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar. The government has announced the extension of its successful Town Planning (TP) scheme to the cities of PK (Puri-Konark), Cuttack and Berhampur.

This decision was finalised in a key meeting presided over by the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Krushna Chandra Mohapatra. The minister chaired a strategic meeting, placing emphasis on the efficient deployment of the Town Planning (TP) scheme in these cities.

Also Read: Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Puri to be developed into Triple City: H&UD Minister

Triple City initiative

The 'Triple City' initiative aims to enhance land management and develop essential infrastructure across the holy city of Puri, the historical town of Konark, the industrial hub of Cuttack, and the silk city Berhampur. As part of the scheme, 40% of land from common people in these cities will be acquired for building roads, drainage systems, electricity networks, markets, and parks, with landowners retaining the remaining 60%.

Swift Implementation Urged

The Minister has called for the prompt execution of the revised scheme, stressing the importance of safeguarding residents against exploitation by intermediaries. He advised government officials and relevant stakeholders to be vigilant in ensuring fair and transparent processes. This protective measure aims to uphold fairness and equity in the distribution and development processes.

Ensuring Efficient Development

The expansion is expected to bring about significant improvements in urban planning and infrastructure. Emphasising the importance of this initiative, the Minister remarked, "We are committed to implementing this scheme effectively and ensuring that the benefits reach the rightful owners without any undue influence." 

“I had invited development authorities of PKDA (Puri Konark), Berhampur, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. Our government wants as much development as possible in these cities. Usually, people who have houses close to the main road are the benefiters while those have houses a bit interior face lot of problems due to lack of space, road and connectivity. As our government is for the common people, we are looking into these problems. So, we are planning to take 40% of their lands and build all the facilities including drainage, sewerage, light system and proper road,” he added.