The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advanced its proposal to expand the city's limits by incorporating 72 nearby revenue villages into its administrative boundary. The move follows the receipt of consent from these village communities and aims to improve civic governance, streamline urban services, and facilitate long-term development planning in the city's peripheral areas. The expansion will increase the BMC's existing zones from three to six and enable better delivery of essential services such as sanitation, water supply, and waste management.Read more

The 84th Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is set to be held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, bringing together around 3,500 delegates, including engineers, technical experts, and other stakeholders from across India. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, will inaugurate the four-day event, which Odisha is hosting for the sixth time. The conference will include technical exhibitions showcasing new developments in road infrastructure, innovative solutions, and cultural programmes, serving as a key platform for knowledge sharing and discussion on transport infrastructure.Read more

Bhubaneswar has rolled out a detailed action plan to address the encroachment of around 498 acres of government land across the city. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi revealed that Jaydev Vihar tops the list with 148 acres affected. The government has formed a Central Enforcement Monitoring Committee (CEMC) and is filing cases under the Odisha Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. Over 11,000 encroachment cases have been registered, impacting key areas including Chandrasekharpur, Jagamara, Dumduma, and BJB Nagar. Eviction drives are ongoing to restore land for public use.Read more

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has partnered with a private sector bank to provide support to urban poor beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0. The collaboration aims to simplify banking processes and guide individuals in arranging their equity contribution. A pilot involving 600 beneficiaries has been rolled out, with each required to contribute an average of around USD 1,500 under the 40:40:20 cost-sharing model.Read more

Bhubaneswar Development Authority conducted a transparent draw to allocate flats to urban poor under Affordable Housing Projects and in-situ slum redevelopment schemes. A total of 38 beneficiaries were assigned units across multiple sites, each required to contribute a specified beneficiary share. The Vice-Chairman reaffirmed the authority's focus on inclusive urban development and emphasised that infrastructure and basic services are integral to the housing effort. The initiative reflects a continuing commitment to relocate slum-dwellers into formal dwellings and enhance living conditions citywide.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has urged property owners to officially transfer internal roads built during plot development to the civic body. Many roads remain undocumented, stalling drainage and road works. Since taking over building approvals in 2020, officials found widespread non-compliance by developers. The mayor stressed that no further infrastructure work would proceed without these transfers. The Corporation also introduced mandatory ID cards for all staff after a security incident and invited ideas to boost revenue collection. Emphasising interdepartmental coordination, officials aim to clear administrative hurdles, speed up infrastructure rollout, and enhance transparency in service delivery across newly developed and existing city areas.Read more

The Odisha government is undertaking a comprehensive reform to simplify its outdated and overly complex land classification and ownership systems. With more than 7,000 land-use types and nearly 3,000 forms of land ownership rooted in colonial-era laws, the administration is now streamlining these into 27 use categories and a simplified set of ownership types. This initiative aims to bring transparency, legal clarity, and administrative efficiency. Additional reforms, including updated property conversion fees, new urban planning regulations, and legal safeguards for SC/ST land rights, complement this overhaul. The state is also repealing obsolete statutes and responding to recent judicial guidance on land titles.Read more

Slum dwellers in Bhubaneswar are hesitant to move into the affordable housing projects, newly constructed for them in Chandrasekharpur and Saheed Nagar. BDA officials express the aim to provide quality housing for those affected by slum redevelopment. The apartments, with a built-up area of 300 to 320 square feet, are deemed too small for even a small family to live comfortably. Residents cite inadequate parking space, security, and the absence of service elevators as concerns. With the project ready for inauguration, and the allotment process set to commence in phases post-inauguration, it remains to be seen how things would proceed.Read more

The Odisha cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has given the green light to the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project (BMRC) Phase I. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will spearhead the Rs 5,929.38 crore turn-key project, spanning 26 km with 20 stations from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Trisulia Square near Cuttack. The infrastructure, part of the Greater Capital Region metropolitan city plan, aims to serve around 50 lakh people. The first phase, focusing on Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Cuttack, and Puri regions, is slated for completion in four years, featuring elevated viaducts, modern coaches, and advanced systems.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) plans to conduct a pioneering real estate survey to assess various aspects of properties and enhance urban planning. The survey will evaluate components like sewerage, drainage, waste management, parking, and security. A consultant will be selected to conduct the survey, focusing on 1,800 properties, aiming to understand existing infrastructure conditions. BDA officials anticipate the survey's findings will aid inclusive city development and guide improvements for addressing the challenges posed by rapid growth. Urban planners recognize the significance of rectifying planning violations for the systematic growth of the city.Read more

The latest deadline for the Dhauli Heights housing project in Bhubaneswar, India, was extended to March 2024 due to several delays. Homebuyers are unhappy by these continued delays because they had originally anticipated having their flats by 2016. The project's partners, Odisha Cooperative Housing Corporation Limited (OCHC) and Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Limited (OPHWC), have an unpaid balance of Rs 3.12 crore, which is the cause of the delays. To settle this amount, OCHC has asked for an additional six months. The Indian real estate sector needs better project management and accountability as a result of these ongoing delays.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has temporarily suspended a slum redevelopment housing project in Mahisakhal, Badagada. Initiated in 2013 under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), the project aimed to construct a G+4-storied building with 19 blocks, providing nearly 700 dwelling units for slum dwellers. While approximately 15 blocks were completed initially, the remaining four faced delays due to land acquisition and funding issues. Eligible slum dwellers were allotted homes in the completed blocks, leaving some without housing. The BDA estimates it needs Rs 20.75 crore to complete the remaining blocks, raising concerns about the fate of those still awaiting housing.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has raised concerns by granting occupancy certificates (OCs) to only 5% of approximately 1,000 buildings constructed in the city over the past five years. The low rate of OC issuance highlights concerns about the safety and adherence to regulations in numerous structures throughout Bhubaneswar. Additionally, allegations of BDA granting approvals for building plans within the jurisdiction of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have raised questions about urban planning and governance in the city. Clarification of authority and adherence to established norms are essential for sustainable urban development.Read more

In March 2015, the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police initiated a program encouraging house owners to provide tenant details to enhance citizen safety. Initially well-received, it was extended to women's hostels in January 2017. However, recent reports reveal a decline in compliance, with very few submission of tenant declaration forms. These forms, available at police stations and online, request tenant information. While the initiative remains optional, police stress its importance for security. It also offers a tenant verification service, but few have utilized it. A review by Deputy Commissioner of Police Prateek Singh seeks to understand the decline and reinforce the significance of this safety measure.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is embarking on six new town planning schemes in Chandaka and Pahala areas to facilitate the holistic development of the city. Previously, BDA completed four similar schemes in Tamando and Chandaka, involving the acquisition of private plots from landowners and their subsequent development in an organized manner. These initiatives covered multiple villages and spanned approximately 1,596 acres. The BDA has a larger vision, with plans to execute 45 town planning schemes across 58 revenue villages, covering a total area of 9,171 acres, signifying a commitment to urban development and infrastructure enhancement.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a pioneering initiative aimed at expediting various development endeavours. This innovative approach promises to streamline operations across multiple domains, including sanitation, urban beautification, the establishment of vibrant public spaces, as well as the construction of much-needed parking facilities and public restrooms. By creating a dedicated land bank, the BMC intends to ensure efficient allocation of land resources, thereby facilitating the swift execution of essential infrastructure projects. This strategic move is expected to significantly enhance the city's overall urban development.Read more

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth approximately Rs 19.67 crore in connection with a loan fraud case allegedly involving builder Uma Shankar Patro and three former bank officials in Bhubaneswar dating back to 2017. The case, which originated from three FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), revolves around the alleged misappropriation of Rs 18.79 crore through multiple housing loans. The attached properties include movable assets like bank balances and mutual fund balances, as well as immovable assets such as land and buildings in Puri and Bhubaneswar. The accused allegedly used forged documents to secure loans and misappropriate public funds.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is shifting its focus to provide affordable housing options for economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower-income groups (LIG). Private real estate developers undertaking projects on government-owned land will now be required to allocate 10% of housing units for EWS and LIG beneficiaries at a subsidized rate of Rs 1,780 per square foot. The BDA has already allocated land for this purpose and plans to expand this initiative. Additionally, the BDA is working on housing projects for the middle-income group and comprehensive development plans for newly added villages. Their vision includes creating a New City on government-owned land for economic development.Read more

Land prices between Nandankanan and Trisulia, where the proposed route will traverse, have increased dramatically as a result of the announcement of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project. Depending on the region, land values have increased by 25% to 50%, with prices rising from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per square foot. Even though the precise metro line has not been finalized, the news itself has affected pricing, especially for plots close to busy roadways. Developers are now considering marketing projects based on their metro accessibility, which is helping the local real estate market flourish as a result of the expectation of increased connection.Read more

The BDA is set to implement the BDA Property (Management and Allotment) Regulation, 2023, as they release the draft for public review. Citizens are encouraged to provide feedback and raise objections before the rule's official enforcement, expected upon publication in the Odisha gazette. The draft outlines dual allocation modes – lottery or auction – for housing projects. Notably, property owners in the city won't qualify for BDA property allotment. Registration with BDA, leading to a universal account number, is mandatory for their participation.Read more