BHUBANESWAR: In a significant development for residents living on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the housing and urban development department initiated plans to expand Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation‘s (BMC) jurisdiction.
The proposal includes incorporation of nine areas such as Sijua, Raghunathpur, Lingipur, Nuagaon, Ebarang, Tikarpada, Itipur, Dhauli, and Basuaghai. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra made this revelation in the state assembly recently.
Responding to a query from legislator Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray, the minister also confirmed that Madhusudan Nagar is proposed to be included in Jatni Municipality of Khurda district to boost civic services.
According to Mahapatra, these proposals were forwarded to the Khurda district collector for further evaluation and recommendations. “A comprehensive proposal will be prepared for including these new areas in BMC and Jatni municipality after receiving suggestions from the district administration,” he said.
The inclusion in BMC jurisdiction will bring significant improvements to these areas, including enhanced civic amenities such as solid waste management, street lighting, sewerage services, and water supply.
This development is particularly crucial for areas like Sijua, home to the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar, which struggled with inadequate civic infrastructure despite hosting a premier medical institution.
Local residents have welcomed this initiative. “This is indeed great news,” said Girija Prasad, a resident of Basuaghai. “Despite being so close to the state capital, our area remained underdeveloped with poor sanitation, frequent power cuts, and inadequate drainage systems,” he said.
Official sources said expansion of BMC’s jurisdiction marks a significant step towards urban development and improved living standards for residents in these peripheral areas. Once implemented, this move is expected to bridge the infrastructure gap between the city proper and its outskirts, ensuring uniform urban development across the greater Bhubaneswar region.
