Urbanisation to Drive One-Third of Odisha’s GSDP, Says Usha Padhee

At the Samruddha Odisha event, Additional Chief Secretary for Housing & Urban Development, Usha Padhee, highlighted the transformative role of urbanisation in shaping Odisha’s economic future.

She noted that nearly one-third of the state’s Gross State Product (GSDP) will be driven by urban growth.

Currently, Odisha’s urbanisation rate stands at around 17%, but the government is pushing for strategic expansion through initiatives like the Livable City Mission, which aims to improve infrastructure, green spaces, mobility, and citizen-centric governance.

A major proposal, the BCPPER Economic Region—linking Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Paradeep—was unveiled to leverage coastal advantages, industries, ports, and tourism. This region alone is projected to contribute one-third of Odisha’s GSDP.

Additionally, City Economic Zones are being developed to boost specialised industries: Rourkela for steel, Sambalpur for food processing, and Koraput for minerals.

These clusters are expected to attract investment, generate employment, and balance regional growth.

The session concluded with a strong commitment to smart planning and effective execution, positioning Odisha as a dynamic economy ready to harness the power of urbanisation.