Bhubaneswar Development Authority to hire agency for planning

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is planning to hire an agency to help with its town planning scheme. This decision was made during a recent meeting focused on improving the town planning cell that operates within the BDA. The scheme is being rolled out in four different zones across the city, with the latest implementation starting in zone IV. The BDA will select the agency through a competitive bidding process. The chosen agency will assist in managing daily operations and provide comprehensive services to the BDA. Additionally, BDA will request Rs 264 crore in funding from the housing and urban development department to support the town planning project. Currently, the town planning project covers 45 schemes in four zones. The fourth zone includes 14 new schemes, covering approximately 22 revenue villages. As part of this initiative, BDA will acquire land from owners, improve it with better infrastructure, and then return it to them. The land will also be used for the city's inner ring road project. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra has announced plans to extend the town planning scheme to other cities, including Sambalpur and Berhampur, in phases. Urban planner Piyush Rout emphasized that proper implementation of the scheme is crucial for uniform development in Odisha's cities.