Odisha CM Greenlights Ambitious Mahanadi River Front Development Project
In a big boost for tourism and local development, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the long-awaited Mahanadi River Front Development project. Officials confirmed the news on Thursday, calling it a game-changer for the state’s riverfront areas.
The Chief Minister’s Office shared that the project will roll out over the next three years, from financial year 2025-26 to 2027-28. The Odisha Water Resources Department will pump in Rs 240 crore from the state budget to make this happen.
Speaking after the approval, CM Majhi highlighted the river’s importance. “The Mahanadi River is the lifeline of Odisha,” he said. “We’ll transform key spots along its banks into vibrant environmental, cultural, and spiritual tourism hubs. These will drive real economic growth for our state.”
The government aims to achieve several goals with this Mahanadi River Front Development initiative. It focuses on bringing social and cultural facilities to riverside cities, building infrastructure for water sports, entertainment parks, science parks, and herbal gardens in partnership with private companies. The project will also tackle riverbank erosion, manage river structures, clean up the water by rerouting sewage, ensure drinking water supply during shortages through conservation efforts, and revive nearby areas using sustainable local resources.
Development will target two prime spots: the stretch from Mandalia to Chaurapur in Sambalpur, and the Kuakhai and Kushabhadra rivers near Pandara in Bhubaneswar.
In Sambalpur, the state will invest Rs 160 crore to create modern amenities like parking zones, jogging parks, selfie points, landscaped gardens, open gyms, upgraded bathing ghats, ritual ghats, themed plazas, shopping complexes, public toilets, and enhanced river ghats. This will turn the area into a lively tourist destination.
For the Bhubaneswar section, Rs 80 crore will go towards strengthening ghats with safety features, adding scenic viewpoints linked by a ring road, floating jetties, lock gates, bridges, cafeterias, parking spots, toilets, and internal walkways along the riverfront.
This Mahanadi River rejuvenation project promises to blend nature, culture, and fun, boosting Odisha’s tourism scene and supporting local economies. Keep an eye on updates as work kicks off!
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