Odisha Govt Reviews ₹150-Crore Mahanadi Riverfront Project in Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up efforts to give Cuttack a new urban identity along the banks of the Mahanadi, with Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krishna Chandra Mahapatra reviewing the ambitious Mahanadi Riverfront Development Project, envisioned as a landmark public and tourism-oriented space for the historic city.

The ₹150-crore project, spread over 426 acres of riverfront land, is planned to be executed in three phases. The State Budget for 2025–26 has made a full provision for the project, underscoring the government’s commitment to transforming the riverfront into an integrated recreational, cultural and environmental corridor.

During the review meeting held at Unnati Bhawan, Dr. Mahapatra emphasised the importance of adhering to strict timelines and called upon the implementing agencies to accelerate statutory approvals, tendering and other groundwork to ensure early take-off of the project.

As outlined in the master plan, the first phase will prioritise the development of a 3.2-km-long riverfront promenade from the Balijatra Ground edge up to the Maritime Museum. This phase will also include pedestrian pathways and essential utility infrastructure in and around the Balijatra area, aimed at improving public access to the riverfront.

The second phase will focus on extending pathways and laying underground utilities across the remaining stretches identified in the master plan. Large-scale tree plantation and eco-friendly design elements will form a core component of this phase, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on environmental sustainability.

In the final phase, the riverfront will be equipped with a wide range of public, cultural and tourism facilities. These include the proposed Cuttack Haat, a Heritage Village, food truck zones, playgrounds, a sensory park, fitness areas, a Nature Interpretation Centre, entrance plazas, thematic gardens, an open-air Maritime Museum and an adventure zone, among other attractions.

The Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) will implement the project through an open tender process. CDA Vice-Chairperson Kirandeep Kaur Sahota presented the project roadmap and execution plan, followed by detailed deliberations on implementation strategies and timelines.