Bhubaneswar: An estimated Budget of Rs 1,536.08 crore has been approved for the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) for the 2025-26 financial year. The approval was made during the 150th Authority Meeting of BDA Thursday under the chairmanship of Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who also serves as BDA Chairman. During the meeting, the Budget estimate for FY 2025- 26 and the revised estimate for 2024-25 were presented.
Moreover, in a significant move toward urban expansion, the BDA approved the inclusion of 143 new revenue villages within its jurisdiction. Currently, BDA oversees four urban local bodies – Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the municipalities of Khurda and Jatni, and the Pipli Notified Area Council (NAC) – along with nearby gram panchayats.
An official said the expansion aims to promote systematic urban growth, enhance infrastructure, and address the challenges of rapid urbanisation. Since its establishment in 1983 with 116 revenue villages, BDA has expanded multiple times, notably in 2002, 2003, and 2011. “The latest expansion aligns with the City’s strategic urban planning efforts and major infrastructure projects aimed at improving regional connectivity,” the official added. With the addition of these new villages, the total number of villages under BDA’s jurisdiction will rise to 712 from the present 569. “Following approval, the proposal will now be forwarded to the state government for consideration under Section 3 of the ODA Act, 1982,” the official said. Additionally, the Authority approved a proposal for land monetisation to generate revenue for BDA. Several land patches have been identified for auction for the purpose. The BDA has also decided to launch a multi-storied housing project at Chandrasekharpur.
Moreover, housing and plotted development schemes will be undertaken at Jagasara and Sanapalla in Khurda. The Authority has also approved the development of Bhubaneswar Town Centre through Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode to enhance parking facilities and commercial utilisation. Another proposal to redevelop BDA City Centre, commonly known as Nicco Park, has been approved. It also approved issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an agency for planning and design of Town Planning Schemes 05, 06, and 07.
Currently, BDA is implementing Town Planning Schemes 1, 2, 3, and 4 in revenue villages under Bhubaneswar Development Planning Area (BDPA), including Sahajpur, Naragoda, Sijuput, Paikarapur, Tamando, Bijipur, Nuagaon and Shyamsundarpur. The BDA has also decided to develop 24 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) roads across the city, a proposal that was presented during the Authority meeting