The Odisha government has approved the Project Proposal Report for the Bhubaneswar-Kataka-Puri-Paradip City Economic Region, clearing the way for a Rs 5,000-crore development plan aimed at transforming the four cities into a single, integrated economic zone.
What did the State Level Project Monitoring Committee approve?
The State Level Project Monitoring Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, approved the Project Proposal Report and advised taking the initiative forward under the Externally Aided Project framework. BKPPER has been selected as one of four pilot regions under the first phase of the Central government’s City Economic Region scheme.
How will the Rs 5,000-crore project be funded?
Of the proposed initial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore, 70 percent, or Rs 3,500 crore, will be financed through a loan from the Asian Development Bank, while the remaining 30 percent, or Rs 1,500 crore, will be provided by the Centre under the CER scheme. Following the committee’s approval, the proposal will be uploaded to the Department of Economic Affairs portal under the Ministry of Finance for further appraisal.
What geographic area and objectives does the project cover?
The proposed economic region spans 19 Urban Local Bodies across the districts of Khordha, Kataka, Puri and Jagatsinghpur. Its core objective is to develop Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Paradip into an integrated economic zone that accelerates investment, industrial growth, tourism, logistics, port-based industries, the knowledge economy and large-scale employment generation.
What flagship initiatives are planned under the project?
The proposal includes an integrated regional mobility system, climate-resilient urban infrastructure, expansion of public transport, multimodal transport hubs, affordable housing for workers, development of Bhubaneswar New City, urban renewal projects, riverfront and waterbody development, port-based industrial infrastructure, and knowledge and healthcare hubs.
How does this fit into Odisha’s broader growth strategy?
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has described the region as one where each city carries distinct strengths, Bhubaneswar in technology, Cuttack in business traditions, Puri in cultural heritage, and Paradip in port-led development. More than 80 projects are planned across metal downstream industries, biotechnology, textiles, chemicals, tourism, education and IT, backed by over 30 policy initiatives. The region currently contributes 19 percent of Odisha’s GDP, with the state targeting growth of its economy to USD 500 billion by 2047 from the current USD 22.4 billion. BKPPER is the fifth such economic region cleared in India after Mumbai, Surat, Visakhapatnam and Varanasi, as the Centre plans 20 such regions nationwide.
