In a significant move to strengthen local self-governance and address growing urbanisation in semi-rural regions, the Odisha government has issued a final notification for the creation of 24 new Notified Area Councils (NACs) across 14 districts and a draft notification for the upgradation of 5 new municipalities in three districts.
The notification, released by the Housing and Urban Development Department, lists the new NACs in areas including Pallahara (Angul), Simulia and Basta (Balasore), Sohela (Bargarh), Tihidi and Dhusuri (Bhadrak), Salipur, Badamba, and Narsinghpur (Cuttack), Gondia (Dhenkanal), Jagannathprasad and Patrapur (Ganjam), Narla and Jaypatna (Kalahandi), Tangi (Khordha), Boriguma (Koraput), Betnoti, Bangiriposi, Chitrada, Kaptipada, and Rasgobindpur (Mayurbhanj), Bissamcuttack (Rayagada), Bamra and Rengali (Sambalpur), and Birmaharajpur (Subarnapur).
Additionally, five areas have been proposed for upgrading to full municipalities: Boudhgarh (Boudh), Bhanjanagar, Kabisuryanagar, & Polasara (Ganjam) and Karanjia (Mayurbhanj).
This development follows Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s earlier announcements in 2025, building on previous expansions of urban local bodies (ULBs). The move aims to decentralise administration, enable independent budgeting for local projects, and enhance essential services such as water supply, waste management, road maintenance, and sanitation in rapidly growing towns transitioning from rural panchayats.
This expansion adds to Odisha’s growing network of ULBs, reflecting the state’s commitment to inclusive urban growth amid rising population pressures in smaller towns.
