Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is preparing to release the final blueprint for Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER), envisioning it as a unified corridor blending urban progress with economic vitality while preserving their distinct identities.
In a high-level meeting aimed at accelerating Odisha’s growth trajectory, held at Lok Seva Bhawan and attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg along with senior state officials, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer B V R Subrahmanyam has called on the state government to expedite the development of the project, aligning efforts with the ambitious targets of “Viksit Odisha 2036” — marking the state’s centenary — and “Viksit Bharat 2047,” the national vision for a developed India by its independence centenary.
The BCPPER is poised to become a key driver of Odisha’s economy, potentially contributing to a $500-billion regional economy by 2036 while supporting the state’s broader goal of reaching $1.5 trillion by 2047. The plan preserves the distinct identities of each city — Bhubaneswar as a knowledge and IT centre, Cuttack for its historical and judicial significance, Puri as a global tourism and cultural landmark, and Paradip for its industrial and maritime strengths — while fostering connectivity in industry, logistics, tourism, and services.
Later speaking to reporters, the NITI Aayog CEO stated that the discussions mainly focused on six areas – faster implementation of identified projects, development of the coastal economic corridor, innovative intervention and role of technology, skill development, social and economic empowerment of tribals, and health and nutrition. “There was discussion on the release of the plan for the Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Paradip Economic Region,” he added.
A key focus of the discussions was empowering tribal communities through greater value addition to minor forest produce, such as sal seeds. Officials emphasised sectoral strategies to boost economic opportunities for these communities by processing and marketing forest products more effectively.
Skill development was another major priority, with calls to expand and modernise training programmes in schools and educational institutions. The goal is to better equip Odisha’s youth with skills aligned to the demands of emerging industries and the services sector. Innovation and technology took center stage, with participants stressing the need to strengthen the NITI Frontier Tech Hub and advance the Living Lab programme. Research-based solutions were highlighted as vital for addressing critical social issues, particularly maternal and child nutrition.
Officials noted that these innovation-led efforts are expected to significantly improve service delivery and governance outcomes.
In the energy sector, the meeting underscored Odisha’s commitment to accelerating the shift toward clean, renewable, and sustainable power systems. Discussions centered on scaling up renewable sources to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy. Progress on ongoing initiatives under a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NITI Aayog and the ISEG Foundation was reviewed, including monitoring mechanisms and policy recommendations for low-cost, eco-friendly energy solutions.
The meeting, attended in person by senior NITI Aayog official S Kishore and joined virtually by others, also evaluated the implementation of central and state schemes linked to Odisha’s 2036 vision. Participants stressed the importance of enhanced coordination to ensure timely execution.
