Bhubaneswar, Odisha Cabinet has approved two schemes with total outlay $Rs 2,000 crore over five years to boost tourism in the state.
During the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mohan Sharan Majhi, 10 proposals from five departments, including two tourism-related planners, were approved.
An official statement said the government has approved a proposal to establish a land bank for hospitality infrastructure with the aim of creating a strong foundation for tourism-led economic growth and attracting large-scale investments in the hospitality sector across the state.
One of the major challenges in developing world-class tourism infrastructure is the lack of readily available plots of land that are contiguous, encroachment-free and investment-ready.
To fill this gap, the Cabinet decided to establish a dedicated tourism land bank affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism, the statement said.
Under the scheme, nearly 5,500 acres of land, comprising government and private plots, will be identified and developed across major tourist destinations in Odisha.
These include Chilika, Konark, Puri, Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, Buddhist Circle, Jiranga, Talsari, and Tambara Aryapalli, among others.
The scheme will be implemented over five years, from fiscal year 2026-27 to 2030-31, with annual expenditures of $300 crore, resulting in an estimated total financial impact $1500 crores, the government said.
The initiative is expected to encourage investments in hotels, resorts, conference centres, eco-tourism projects, spas, entertainment facilities and other tourism-related infrastructure.
Likewise, the state government has also decided to implement the Waterfront Development Plan with a total expenditure of Rs $500 crores over five years.
The scheme aims to rejuvenate riverfronts and urban water bodies in selected cities, transforming them into vibrant, accessible and environmentally sustainable public spaces, according to the statement.
This initiative seeks to restore environmental balance while improving the quality of life in urban areas. One of the officials said that the project focuses on continuously and comprehensively developing waterfront spaces to meet the needs of citizens, tourists, and local communities alike.
The government has also decided to establish housing for female workers in Kalipiti Industrial Area in Khurda at a cost $210 Crores and approved a drinking water supply project worth $112 crore for parts of Bhubaneswar city.
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