Government of Odisha and ADB advance
transformative urban mobility agenda for BCPPER Region
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 30, 2026
Emphasising that the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region
(BCPPER) has the potential to emerge as a model economic region powered by
efficient mobility systems, sustainable urbanisation and enhanced connectivity,
Additional Chief Secretary of the Odisha Housing & Urban Development
Department, Usha Padhee, on Saturday called for an integrated regional approach
to mobility planning and urban development. She stressed the importance of
inter-departmental coordination, timely data sharing, evidence-based planning
and stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful implementation of Odisha’s
ambitious mobility transformation agenda.
In a significant step towards building a sustainable, integrated and
future-ready mobility ecosystem, the Housing & Urban Development
Department, Government of Odisha, on Saturday reviewed the progress of the
Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported Technical Assistance Programme for the
preparation of a Comprehensive Regional Mobility Plan (CRMP) for the
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER) and a State-wide Bus
Service Transformation Roadmap.
The review meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Housing
& Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee. Senior officials of the
Department, representatives of ADB, consultants from SYSTRA and Delhi
Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd. (DIMTS), along with representatives
of concerned agencies, participated in the deliberations.
The ADB Technical Assistance Programme, signed in December 2025 with an
assistance amount of US$1 million, seeks to lay the foundation for an
integrated regional mobility framework that links public transport, land-use
planning, transit-oriented development, logistics, digital mobility solutions
and institutional reforms across the emerging economic region.
During the review, consultant teams presented the roadmap for the
preparation of the Comprehensive Regional Mobility Plan covering nearly 11,900
sq. km of the BCPPER region. Home to an estimated population of over 9.2
million and a workforce exceeding 4.1 million, the region is rapidly emerging
as Odisha’s principal economic growth corridor and requires a coordinated
mobility strategy to support its future expansion and development.
The proposed CRMP will provide a twenty-year vision for regional mobility
and urban growth, encompassing multimodal transport systems, public transit
networks, non-motorised transport infrastructure, freight and logistics
management, parking policies, transit-oriented development and
climate-resilient mobility solutions. The plan will be supported by detailed
surveys, GIS-based mapping, travel demand modelling and comprehensive
socio-economic assessments.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the State-wide Bus Service
Transformation Roadmap being prepared for Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT)
and Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). The roadmap aims to
strengthen public transport services through route rationalisation, schedule
optimisation, fleet augmentation, electrification strategies, digital
integration and enhanced financial sustainability.
The proposed strategy envisages substantial strengthening of CRUT’s urban
bus operations to meet the growing mobility demands of the capital region while
supporting OSRTC in developing a long-term operational and financial roadmap
for improving regional and inter-city connectivity across Odisha. The
initiative will also promote the adoption of Intelligent Transport Systems
(ITS), data-driven decision-making and improved passenger-centric services.
The review further discussed policy frameworks relating to
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Land Value Capture (LVC), urban
redevelopment and sustainable financing mechanisms to support future mobility
investments. Deliberations were also held on operationalising a Unified
Transport Authority (UTA) for the BCPPER region to facilitate integrated
transport planning and seamless multimodal coordination.
ADB representatives briefed the meeting on the proposed City Economic
Region (CER) initiative for BCPPER, which seeks to integrate regional mobility,
urban development, logistics, governance reforms and digital infrastructure
under a common development framework. Discussions focused on identifying
priority projects and investment opportunities for future implementation and
financing support.
Chairing the meeting, Usha Padhee emphasized the need for an integrated
regional approach to mobility planning and urban development. She underscored
the importance of inter-departmental coordination, timely data sharing,
evidence-based planning and stakeholder engagement for successful
implementation of the programme.
She observed that the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip corridor has the potential to emerge as a model economic region driven by efficient mobility systems, sustainable urbanisation and enhanced connectivity. She directed all concerned agencies to extend full support to the planning process and ensure timely progress of all activities under the ADB Technical Assistance Programme.
The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for the next phase of activities, including the commencement of core planning exercises, policy consultations, institutional strengthening initiatives and periodic reviews to monitor progress and ensure alignment with Odisha’s long-term urban development vision and sustainable growth objectives.
