The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning a significant expansion, with 71 peripheral villages likely to be integrated into the city’s administrative boundaries.
This development aims to provide residents with better access to urban infrastructure and civic amenities currently unavailable in their panchayat areas.
Villages Seek Urban Inclusion
The expansion proposal follows formal requests from local villagers, who have expressed their willingness to join BMC. Block Development Officers (BDOs) from Bhubaneswar, Balianta, and Jatni blocks have submitted resolutions passed by gram sabhas to the corporation. The documents are now awaiting state government approval for final consideration.
Of the 71 villages:
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66 belong to 12 panchayats under Bhubaneswar block
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1 panchayat and 1 village fall under Balianta
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1 panchayat with 4 villages is under Jatani
Key areas under consideration include Sijua, Tamando, Andharua, Daspur, Dhauli, Mendhasala, Keshura, Kantabada, Raghunathpur, and Lingipur, which are already seeing rapid semi-urban development.
Currently, the BMC governs 67 wards, last revised in 2013. Officials stated that the newly merged areas may either be added to existing wards or lead to the creation of additional wards.
Bhubaneswar New City Project
The expansion aligns with the Bhubaneswar New City project, a major urban development initiative covering approximately 800 acres across Gothapatna, Malipada, Daspur, and Andharua.
The Odisha government has partnered with Singapore-based Surbana Jurong (SJ), a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, to design the master plan for the new township. The project aims to create a modern, sustainable, and inclusive urban extension, with features such as:
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Mixed-use developments
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Residential clusters
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Green corridors
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Public amenities
This development is designed to accommodate future population growth while maintaining environmental balance, supporting Bhubaneswar’s vision as a smart and inclusive city.
