Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Monday approved two major schemes with a total outlay of Rs 2,000 crore over five years, aiming to position the state as a premier global travel destination and drive tourism-led economic growth.
The high-level cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, cleared a total of 10 proposals spanning five different departments, with the two tourism initiatives taking centre stage.
To address a long-standing bottleneck in the state’s hospitality sector, the government approved the creation of a dedicated land bank for hospitality infrastructure with an aim to create a robust foundation for tourism-led economic growth and to attract large-scale investments in the hospitality sector across the state, an official statement said.
A major challenge in developing world-class tourism infrastructure has been the lack of readily available, contiguous, encroachment-free, and investment-ready land parcels. To address this gap, the cabinet has decided to establish a dedicated Tourism Land Bank under the Department of Tourism, the statement read.
Under land bank scheme, the state will identify and develop approximately 5,500 acres of both government and private land across prominent tourist hotspots. The targeted destinations include Chilika, Konark, Puri (Shamuka), Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, the Buddhist Circuit, Jiranga, Talsari, and Tampara-Aryapalli, among others.
The scheme is scheduled for implementation from the financial year 2026-27 through 2030-31, backed by an annual outlay of Rs 300 crore, bringing the total estimated financial implication to Rs 1,500 crore, the government said.
The official statement further noted that the initiative is expected to encourage investments in hotels, resorts, convention centres, eco-tourism projects, wellness retreats, recreational facilities, and other tourism-related infrastructure.
Alongside the land bank, the state cabinet gave its nod to the Waterfront Development Scheme, allocating Rs 500 crore over the same five-year window. This project is designed to clean up, revive, and beautify riverfronts and major water bodies across selected cities, converting neglected spaces into vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable public spaces, as per the statement.
This initiative seeks to restore ecological balance while enhancing the quality of life in urban areas. It focuses on developing continuous and inclusive waterfront spaces that cater to citizens, tourists, and local communities alike, an official said.
In a separate push toward industrial welfare, the cabinet approved Rs 210 crore for the construction of a large-scale women workers’ hostel at the Kalibeti Industrial Area in Khurda, aiming to boost women’s participation in the manufacturing and industrial workforce.
Additionally, the government cleared a crucial Rs 112 crore drinking water supply project earmarked for select town planning zones within Bhubaneswar city to ensure improved civic amenities.
