Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has proposed several key projects for Cuttack under the Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Paradeep Economic Region (BCPPER) plan, aiming to transform the city into a hub for tourism, industry, innovation, and connectivity, revealed Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister for Housing & Urban Development.
The Minister’s reply came in response to a detailed question raised by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous from the Barabati-Cuttack constituency. She had sought information on the number of projects proposed specifically for Cuttack, details of major initiatives such as the proposed new city, medi-city, industrial clusters or logistics infrastructure, the investment proposed, expected timelines, and steps to ensure that economic benefits reach traditional businesses and local entrepreneurs of Cuttack.
Replying to the query, Minister said “Under the Economic Plan for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Paradeep Economic Region (BCPPER), several important projects have been proposed for the development of Cuttack across different sectors. These include redevelopment of Barabati Fort and Bali Jatra Ground as a major tourism and cultural hub, development of the Swaraj Ashram–Netaji Museum corridor, and promotion of eco-tourism at Ansupa Lake and Satkosia. In the industrial sector, an Apparel Park is proposed at Choudwar along with support for traditional crafts like silver filigree through a Kala Innovation Zone. The plan also includes establishment of a MedTech and HealthTech hub in Cuttack, development of industrial facilities for medical devices, and implementation of a Seed Village programme to support agriculture. Further, improvement of connectivity through the proposed Cuttack–Chandabali road and strengthening of its role as a logistics hub have been envisaged.
