The Odisha Cabinet has approved a Bill to amend the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982, paving the way for the creation of Economic Region Development Authorities (ERDAs) to drive integrated planning and development of major urban and industrial corridors.
The proposed Odisha Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to establish a statutory framework for constituting ERDAs, with the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER) identified as the pilot City Economic Region.
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Cabinet Approves ODA Act Amendment
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the amendment will enable the state government to establish Economic Region Development Authorities without enacting separate legislation for each new economic region.
The move is aligned with Odisha’s Vision 2036 and Vision 2047 roadmap, which seeks to promote urbanisation as a key driver of economic growth.
BCPPER Identified as Pilot Economic Region
The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region has been selected as the first Economic Region under the new framework.
According to the government, an economic development plan for BCPPER has already been prepared in collaboration with NITI Aayog.
The region was also recognised in the Union Budget 2026-27 as one of four City Economic Regions identified nationally as future engines of economic growth, alongside Varanasi, Surat and Visakhapatnam.
More Economic Regions Planned
The state government has also identified three additional urban agglomerations for phased development:
- Bargarh-Jharsuguda-Sambalpur
- Berhampur-Chhatrapur-Gopalpur
- Jeypore-Koraput-Sunabeda
These regions are expected to be developed as integrated economic corridors in subsequent phases.
ERDAs to Coordinate Regional Development
The amendment proposes introducing new definitions of “Economic Region” and “Economic Region Development Authority” into the ODA Act along with a new Chapter IIA.
ERDAs will function as overarching statutory bodies, coordinating the work of multiple development authorities within an economic region.
The framework aims to facilitate integrated regional planning, infrastructure development, housing, logistics, mobility, investment promotion, employment generation and efficient delivery of public services beyond existing municipal boundaries.
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