Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday approved the ambitious Mahanadi River Front Development Project, a flagship initiative aimed at transforming riverbanks into vibrant cultural, tourism, and ecological hubs.
The project will be implemented over three years (2025–26 to 2027–28) with an estimated outlay of ₹240 crore, funded entirely from the state government’s resources through the Water Resources Development Department.
Announcing the decision, Majhi described the Mahanadi as the lifeline of Odisha and said the initiative would give the riverfront a new identity as a center for environmental, cultural, and spiritual tourism, while also contributing to the state’s economic growth.
The project’s key objectives include developing social and cultural facilities along the riverbanks, promoting water sports, amusement and science parks, and herbal gardens through private partnerships, controlling erosion and river structures, ensuring proper waste disposal to keep the river clean, conserving water to aid drinking supply during scarcity, and rejuvenating the surrounding ecosystem through sustainable resource development.
Development will be undertaken in two phases. The first covers riverbank stretches of the Mahanadi from Mandalia to Chaunpur in Sambalpur, with facilities such as jogging tracks, selfie points, open gyms, improved ghats, bathing and aarti ghats, theme plazas, shopping complexes, parks, parking areas, and toilets. This phase will see an investment of ₹160 crore.
The second phase will focus on the Kuakhai and Kushabhadra rivers near Pandara in Bhubaneswar, featuring riverbank ghats, floating jetties, scenic viewpoints along the ring road, lock gates, bridges, internal pedestrian pathways, cafeterias, parking facilities, and toilets. This phase will involve an expenditure of ₹80 crore.
Officials said the project will integrate tourism, ecology, and community spaces, ensuring that the Mahanadi riverfront evolves into a landmark destination.
