In a significant step towards building a sustainable, integrated and future-ready mobility ecosystem, the Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, today reviewed the progress of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported Technical Assistance Programme for the preparation of a Comprehensive Regional Mobility Plan (CRMP) for the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER) and a State-wide Bus Service Transformation Roadmap.
The review meeting was chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, IAS. Senior officials of the Department, representatives of ADB, consultants from SYSTRA and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd. (DIMTS), along with representatives of concerned agencies, participated in the discussions.
The ADB Technical Assistance programme, signed in December 2025 with an assistance amount of US$1 million, aims to lay the foundation for an integrated regional mobility framework linking public transport, land use planning, transit-oriented development, logistics, digital mobility solutions and institutional reforms across the emerging economic region.
During the review, consultant teams presented the roadmap for preparation of the Comprehensive Regional Mobility Plan covering nearly 11,900 sq. km of the BCPPER region. Home to an estimated population of over 9.2 million and a workforce exceeding 4.1 million, the region is emerging as Odisha’s principal economic growth corridor and requires a coordinated mobility strategy to support future development.
The proposed CRMP will provide a twenty-year vision for regional mobility and urban growth, encompassing multimodal transport systems, public transit networks, non-motorised transport infrastructure, freight and logistics management, parking policies, transit-oriented development and climate-resilient mobility solutions. The plan will be supported by detailed surveys, GIS-based mapping, travel demand modelling and socio-economic assessments.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the State-wide Bus Service Transformation Roadmap being prepared for Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) and Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). The roadmap seeks to strengthen public transport services through route rationalisation, schedule optimisation, fleet augmentation, electrification strategies, digital systems and enhanced financial sustainability.
The proposed strategy envisages significant strengthening of CRUT’s urban bus operations to meet growing mobility demand in the capital region while supporting OSRTC in developing a long-term operational and financial roadmap for improving regional and inter-city connectivity across Odisha. The initiative will also promote the adoption of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), data-driven decision-making and improved passenger services.
The review further discussed policy frameworks relating to Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Land Value Capture (LVC), urban redevelopment and sustainable financing mechanisms to support future mobility investments. Deliberations were also held on operationalising a Unified Transport Authority (UTA) for the BCPPER region to facilitate integrated transport planning and multimodal coordination.
ADB representatives briefed the meeting on the proposed City Economic Region (CER) initiative for BCPPER, which aims to integrate regional mobility, urban development, logistics, governance reforms and digital infrastructure under a common development framework. Discussions focused on identifying priority projects and investment opportunities for future implementation and financing support.
Chairing the meeting, ACS Usha Padhee emphasised the need for an integrated regional approach to mobility planning and urban development. She underscored the importance of inter-departmental coordination, timely data sharing, evidence-based planning and stakeholder engagement for successful implementation of the programme.
She observed that the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip corridor has the potential to emerge as a model economic region driven by efficient mobility systems, sustainable urbanisation and enhanced connectivity. She directed all concerned agencies to extend full support to the planning process and ensure the timely progress of all activities under the ADB Technical Assistance programme.
The meeting concluded with a roadmap for the next phase of activities, including commencement of core planning exercises, policy consultations, institutional strengthening initiatives and periodic reviews to monitor progress and ensure alignment with Odisha’s long-term urban development vision.
