Odisha Government Unveils Transformative Economic Region Plan Targeting $500 Billion by 2047
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha state government has officially launched an ambitious economic blueprint for the proposed Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER), positioning this strategic corridor as eastern India's premier global trade gateway through comprehensive port-led industrialization strategies.
Massive Financial Commitment and Geographic Scale
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the meticulously prepared plan developed by Niti Aayog, revealing that the central government has allocated Rs 5,000 crore specifically for each City Economic Region (CER) in the 2026-27 Union Budget, with BCPPER prominently included among these nationally significant initiatives.
The economic region spans an impressive 11,892 square kilometers, nearly double the geographical footprint of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, encompassing four key districts: Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur. "This region will serve as the central hub of Odisha's economic growth and play a pivotal role in India's broader development narrative," emphasized Chief Minister Majhi during the announcement.
Strategic Integration of Regional Strengths
The comprehensive plan strategically leverages the distinct economic advantages of each urban center within the corridor:
- Bhubaneswar: Technology and innovation leadership
- Cuttack: Commercial and trade excellence
- Puri: Cultural heritage and tourism potential
- Paradip: Port-led industrial development
Modern infrastructure networks will interconnect these centers, creating synergistic economic relationships. The blueprint outlines over 80 major projects across diverse sectors including metals, biotechnology, textiles, chemicals, tourism, education, and information technology, complemented by more than 30 targeted policy initiatives designed to accelerate development.
Ambitious Economic Targets and Governance Structure
Currently contributing 19% to Odisha's overall economy with an output of $22.4 billion, the region aims for exponential growth to reach $500 billion by 2047. Chief Minister Majhi expressed strong confidence that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, with robust support from the central government and Niti Aayog, Odisha's "double engine government" will successfully transform the region into a national hub of prosperity and innovation.
Niti Aayog member Rajiv Gauba described BCPPER as a foundational cornerstone in building a developed Odisha, noting that among 20 proposed city economic regions nationwide, BCPPER ranks within the top five priority projects. "If this region grows, its people will grow. Living standards will rise substantially. The plan must be implemented with urgency and precision," Gauba emphasized.
Urbanization Strategy and Specialized Development Zones
Niti Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam highlighted the critical importance of urbanization in India's economic trajectory, pointing out that 70-80% of India's GDP currently originates from urban areas. "We aim to bring more than half of India's population into urban centers by 2047. Following Mumbai, Surat, Visakhapatnam and Varanasi, this represents our fifth major regional development initiative," Subrahmanyam explained.
The newly established BCPPER Economic Regional Development Authority (ERDA) will oversee all project approvals and coordinate comprehensive development across the four districts. Three specialized development zones have been proposed:
- A global sports city in Cuttack
- Manufacturing clusters in Khurda district
- A 'kala' (art) innovation zone in Bhubaneswar
Environmental considerations feature prominently in the plan, with polluting industries scheduled for relocation from Choudwar and Jatni areas. Jatni will simultaneously undergo transformation into a satellite city of Bhubaneswar, creating balanced urban expansion.
This comprehensive economic region plan represents one of Odisha's most significant development initiatives in recent decades, potentially reshaping eastern India's economic landscape through strategic infrastructure investment, sectoral diversification, and integrated urban-rural development approaches.
