Bhubaneswar expansion: 71 villages may merge with BMC as new city plans take shape
Efforts to expand the administrative boundaries of Bhubaneswar have gained momentum, with 71 peripheral villages likely to be brought under the jurisdiction of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
According to The Times of India, a proposal in this regard is currently awaiting state government approval and follows formal requests from the villagers, who have expressed their willingness to join the civic fold to access urban infrastructure and civic amenities currently unavailable in their panchayat areas.
71 Villages Seek Urban Inclusion
The reports added that Block Development Officers (BDOs) from Bhubaneswar, Balianta, and Jatni blocks have submitted resolutions passed by the respective gram sabhas to the corporation. The BMC is expected to forward these documents to the state government for consideration and final approval.
Of the 71 villages, 66 belong to 12 panchayats under the Bhubaneswar block, while one panchayat and one village come under Balianta, and one panchayat with four villages under Jatani.
The proposed inclusion areas include localities such as Sijua, Tamando, Andharua, Daspur, Dhauli, Mendhasala, Keshura, Kantabada, Raghunathpur, and Lingipur, many of which already border the existing city limits and are witnessing rapid semi-urban development.
Currently, the BMC governs 67 wards, a number last revised in 2013 when it rose from 60. If the merger is approved, officials said the new areas may either be integrated into existing wards or lead to the creation of additional ones.
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New City Project Takes Shape
The development comes amid the Bhubaneswar New City project gaining steam. Spread over approximately 800 acres across Gothapatna, Malipada, Daspur, and Andharua, the proposed new city marks one of Odisha’s most ambitious urban planning initiatives.
The state government has engaged Singapore-based Surbana Jurong (SJ), a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, to design the master plan for this new township, as of the last reports.
Plans for the Bhubaneswar New City aim to develop it as a modern, sustainable, and inclusive extension of Bhubaneswar, aligning with the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA).
It is expected to host mixed-use developments, residential clusters, green corridors, and public amenities to accommodate future population growth while maintaining environmental balance.
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