Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced an ambitious Quad City programme to boost regional economies by developing multiple economic zones across the state. The initiative aims to link clusters of four major urban centres in each zone, integrating administrative, industrial, cultural, and resource-based hubs to accelerate growth.
Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Principal Secretary Usha Padhee shared the plan during an interaction with media on Monday. She said four zones have been identified in the first phase, each comprising four cities that significantly contribute to Odisha’s GDP.
The first zone will connect Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, and Paradip, creating a powerful growth corridor by merging the state’s capital, cultural hub, administrative centre, and port city. “Only expanding cities is not enough—economic activities must rise in parallel. These clusters will serve as engines of growth for Odisha,” Padhee explained.
A second zone is being designed for western and southern Odisha, linking Koraput, Sunabeda, Sambalpur, and Bargarh. This cluster will focus on industrial expansion, agro-based enterprises, and tribal economy development.
The third zone will cover northern Odisha, including Rourkela, Keonjhar, and Barbil, leveraging the state’s mineral-rich belt to strengthen the steel and mining economy while opening new avenues for jobs and infrastructure growth.
Padhee confirmed that discussions are underway with NITI Aayog to finalise investment models, infrastructure needs, and a phased rollout strategy. An internal state committee is steering the programme’s design and execution.
