Spread across 11,892 sq km, nearly twice the size of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the BCPPER will encompass Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts. “This region will be the hub of Odisha’s economic growth and play a pivotal role in India’s development story,” the CM said. Highlighting the distinct strengths of each city — Bhubaneswar in technology, Cuttack in commerce, Puri in cultural heritage, and Paradip in port-led industry — he added that modern infrastructure will connect these centres. Over 80 projects in sectors such as metals, biotech, textiles, chemicals, tourism, education and IT are planned, alongside more than 30 policy initiatives.Currently contributing 19% to Odisha’s economy, the region’s output stands at $22.4 billion. The target is to scale the figure to $500 billion by 2047. Majhi expressed confidence that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and with support from the Centre and Niti Aayog, Odisha’s “double engine govt” will transform the region into a hub of prosperity.Niti Aayog member Rajiv Gauba described BCPPER as a cornerstone in building a developed Odisha, noting that among 20 proposed city economic regions nationwide, BCPPER ranks in the top 5. “If this region grows, its people will grow. Living standards will rise. The plan must be implemented swiftly,” he said.Niti Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam emphasised the importance of urbanisation, pointing out that 70-80% of India’s GDP comes from urban areas. “We aim to bring more than half of India’s population into urban centres by 2047. After Mumbai, Surat, Visakhapatnam and Varanasi, this is our fifth major plan,” he said.The BCPPER Economic Regional Development Authority (ERDA) will oversee project approvals and coordinate development across the four districts. Three specialised development zones are proposed: a global sports city in Cuttack, manufacturing clusters in Khurda, and a ‘kala’ (art) innovation zone in Bhubaneswar. Polluting industries will be relocated from Choudwar and Jatni, with Jatni being developed as a satellite city of Bhubaneswar.
