Odisha’s urbanisation rate is projected to rise from 17 per cent to 40 per cent by 2036, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said at the National Urban Conclave-2026 in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, outlining a rapid expansion of cities, transport networks, water infrastructure and urban institutions across the state.
Majhi said the state had begun developing what he described as state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern institutions to support the expected increase in the urban population. The projection comes as Odisha prepares to mark 100 years of statehood in 2036 and pursues its stated ambition of building a USD 500 billion economy.
The Chief Minister said India’s urban population is expected to exceed its rural population by 2047. He said Odisha’s cities would need to be inclusive, technology-driven and equipped with modern amenities as development accelerates across industries, ports, tourism and services.
The state has received investment proposals totalling Rs 23 lakh crore, Majhi said, while more than 200 industrial projects involving Rs 3.5 lakh crore have been completed. The figures were presented as part of the state government’s case for expanding urban infrastructure alongside industrial and economic growth.
A major planning initiative highlighted at the event was the proposed Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region, or BKPPER, which is being established under the guidance of the central government and NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister also said satellite townships were being developed through the expansion of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
The administrative footprint of urban Odisha has expanded as well. According to Majhi, 28 new notified area councils, seven municipalities and one municipal corporation have been established. These additions will increase the number of urban institutions responsible for local planning and service delivery, although the report did not specify their locations or implementation timelines.
Public transport was a central theme at the conclave, which focused on the “Right to Walk”. Majhi said safe footpaths, pedestrian crossings and public spaces were essential elements of urban transport planning. The Capital Region Urban Transport network, launched in 2018 with 200 buses, now operates 770 buses across 138 routes in seven cities and serves about 3.5 lakh passengers each day, he said.
The Chief Minister also launched 26 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa initiative. The report did not provide details of the routes, deployment schedule or charging infrastructure for the new buses.
Water supply was another area discussed at the event. Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the Drink from Tap project, which began in Puri, had expanded to 11 cities. She added that piped drinking water was being supplied to households across 114 urban areas in the state.
NITI Aayog CEO Anurag Jain said that half of India’s population could live in urban areas by 2047 and that this segment could contribute 75 per cent of the country’s GDP. He said urbanisation needed to be organised and planned, warning that uncoordinated growth could create serious problems. The next phase of Odisha’s urban expansion will therefore depend not only on new projects, but also on how effectively transport, water, public spaces and municipal institutions are coordinated.
