Plan chalked out to develop Odisha capital sans land acquisition

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 7:

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) authorities have chalked out a town planning scheme for the peripheral development of the Odisha capital without having to acquire land forcefully from the local land owners as part of its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for the city.

Such planning would facilitate regulated geographical expansion of the city, BDA sources said.

The four areas identified under this scheme are Sahajpur, Nargoda, Sijiput and Paikarapur and the preparation for the implementation of the scheme has begun. This scheme was first mentioned under Orissa Development Authorities (ODA) Act of 1982. However, BDA was unable to implement on the ground as it was time-consuming and needed widespread support.

As per senior officials of BDA, BDA officers would discuss land unification and re-arrangement with the local land owners in the above mentioned areas and re-organize plots to ensure proper utilisation of land.  It will help BDA to pass on town plan benefits such as better road connectivity, drinking water and sewerage to residents and plot buyers in those areas.

BDA also intendeds to build parks, community centres and playgrounds if there is space left.

While this move would ensure some of the land owners would lose part of their land, they will ultimate gain as the land price will shoot up if BDA manages to provide these services.

Clause 111(1) of ODA Act-1982 empowers the planning member to serve public notice and take action on all necessary modification and rearrangements of the land. The plan was approved by the BDA authority in the meeting held last month.

BDA has already prepared a master plan for the development of a residential complex with all modern amenities spread over 67 acres at Jagasara on the outskirts of the city.

This was revealed by BDA vice chairman Krishan Kumar at a workshop attended by real estate firms, apart from BDA and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials here yesterday.

The complex, complete with modern amenities like schools, hospitals, shopping malls and sports complexes, would have houses for all sections, Kumar said.

The Info Valley project is under construction nearby would generate employment for about 80, 000 people in the coming five years and hence the proposed complex would be in great demand, he said.