The Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER) will be developed as a major growth engine of Odisha’s economy, with the region poised to play a significant role in India’s economic growth, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi said on Saturday.
Launching the comprehensive economic plan for the BCPPER, prepared by NITI Aayog, Majhi said each city in the region has its own unique strengths and identity—Bhubaneswar in technology, Cuttack in business traditions, Puri in cultural heritage, and Paradeep in port-led development.
The comprehensive plan envisions connecting these cities with modern infrastructure and implementing diverse projects in each area. More than 80 projects have been planned in sectors such as metal downstream industries, biotechnology, textiles, chemicals, tourism, education and IT. In addition, over 30 policy initiatives will be undertaken to transform the entire region into a laboratory of development and prosperity, he added.
Referring to the Union Budget 2026–27, Majhi pointed out that the Central Government has announced the City Economic Regions (CER) initiative, under which BCPPER has been included. An allocation of Rs 5,000 crore has been earmarked by the Central Government for the development of each CER.
The BCPPER region currently contributes 19 per cent of Odisha’s economy. As of 2025, the economic size of the region stands at USD 22.4 billion, with a target of scaling it up to USD 500 billion by 2047. With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the support of the Central Government and NITI Aayog, the double-engine government in the state will develop this region into a major centre of economic transformation, he asserted.
The economic plan for BCPPER would play a decisive role in shaping Odisha’s future and significantly contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Similar plans will be prepared for major cities in other districts in the coming days. He added that since assuming office, the Chief Minister has prioritised urbanisation, which is reflected in the creation of 28 new Notified Area Councils, seven municipalities, and one municipal corporation, State’s Housing and Urban Development Minister Krishna Chandra Mahapatra said on the occasion.
The BCPPER project is a key pillar in building a developed Odisha. While proposals have been made for the development of 20 major cities across the country, BCPPER has been placed among the top five. The growth of this region will directly benefit the people, improving their standard of living. He urged the state government to ensure speedy implementation of the plan, NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba noted.
NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam, speaking on the occasion, said 70–80 per cent of India’s GDP comes from urban areas, and the target is to bring more than half of the population under urbanisation by 2047. After Mumbai, Surat, Visakhapatnam, and Varanasi, this is NITI Aayog’s fifth such economic plan.