Puri upgraded to municipal corporation; 4 towns declared NACs

The Odisha government has officially upgraded the Puri Municipality to a Municipal Corporation with effect from Wednesday, following the issuance of a statutory notification by the Housing and Urban Development Department.

The decision was earlier announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on July 3, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the residents of the holy city. Puri, home to the revered Lord Jagannath Temple, witnesses a heavy influx of devotees and tourists from across the country and abroad throughout the year. The upgrade aims to improve the quality of civic amenities and infrastructure for residents, pilgrims and visitors.

Infrastructure Development Soon

With the notification coming into effect, celebrations have been reported across the Puri region. Officials said the formation of the Municipal Corporation will pave the way for large-scale infrastructure development and the creation of a well-planned urban area encompassing Puri and its surrounding localities.

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NACS For Four Towns

In addition, the state government has declared four towns as Notified Area Councils (NACs). These include Loisingha in Bolangir district, Chandikhole in Jajpur district, Jashipur in Mayurbhanj district and Basta in Balasore district.

The government has also issued a draft notification for the expansion of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation limits. This decision was announced earlier by the Chief Minister on August 31 on the occasion of Local Self-Government Day.

Officials said these measures are part of the state’s broader push to strengthen urban governance and improve civic infrastructure across Odisha.