Odisha Plans Affordable Housing, Flyovers to Ease Bhubaneswar’s Growth

Bhubaneswar: In response to rapid population growth and rising property prices in the state capital, the Odisha government is preparing to launch a comprehensive affordable housing initiative aimed at providing homes to citizens within a price range of ₹15 lakh to ₹50 lakh. The announcement was made by Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Saturday.

With property prices in Bhubaneswar soaring — reaching around ₹1 crore for a standard home — the government is set to expand the city’s periphery under a new Town Planning Scheme to accommodate more people with cost-effective housing options. The Housing and Urban Development Department will oversee the construction of houses across various categories, including High-Income Group (HIG), Middle-Income Group (MIG), and Low-Income Group (LIG).

“People want to live in Bhubaneswar Smart City with modern amenities. The Chief Minister is personally reviewing the plans to ensure better urban living,” said Mahapatra.

As part of the government’s vision for a “Better Bhubaneswar and Great Bhubaneswar,” additional infrastructure upgrades are also on the agenda. To ease worsening traffic congestion, the state is considering the removal of traffic lights on major roads and the construction of flyovers at key intersections to ensure smoother flow of vehicles.

The Minister also highlighted plans to expand the city’s public transportation network by introducing more city buses, thereby improving accessibility and reducing private vehicle dependency.

Commenting on the earlier Smart City projects launched by the Centre, Mahapatra remarked that many initiatives had failed to deliver the expected outcomes. He assured that the “double-engine government” is now placing greater emphasis on making Bhubaneswar a truly smarter city through practical and people-centric developments.