Industry Odisha Bureau, Jun 9: The Odisha government has decided to create 5,500 acres of land for tourism and hospitality projects sector across the State. The State Cabinet has approved the scheme titled “Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure”, of Department of Tourism aimed at creating a robust foundation for tourism-led economic growth and attracting large-scale investments in the hospitality sector across the State, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said.
Tourism has emerged as one of the key drivers of economic development, employment generation, and regional prosperity. Odisha, endowed with rich natural beauty, cultural heritage, spiritual destinations, wildlife resources, and coastal attractions, has set an ambitious vision under Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047 to position itself among the leading eco and cultural tourism destinations in India and Asia, she said.
“A major challenge in developing world-class tourism infrastructure has been the lack of readily available, contiguous, encroachment-free, and investment-ready land parcels. To address this gap, the State cabinet approved to establish a dedicated Tourism Land Bank under the Department of Tourism,” the Chief Secretary informed.
Under the scheme, approximately 5,500 acres of land comprising both Government and private land parcels will be identified and developed across major tourism destinations of Odisha. These include Chilika, Konark, Puri (Shamuka), Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, Buddhist Circuit, Jiranga, Talsari, and Tampara-Aryapalli, among others.
Additional destinations may also be included in future based on tourism potential and destination wise development requirements; she pointed out.
The scheme will be implemented over a period of five years, from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31, with an annual outlay of Rs 300 crore, resulting in a total estimated financial implication of Rs 1,500 crore, Garg stated.
The proposed Tourism Land Bank will facilitate destination-level master planning and provide investors with access to infrastructure-ready land parcels, thereby reducing project gestation periods and improving the case of doing business.
The initiative is expected to encourage investments in hotels, resorts, convention centres, eco-tourism projects, wellness retreats, recreational facilities, and other tourism-related infrastructure.
The scheme has been designed as a State-wide intervention to ensure balanced regional development. It will support the growth of emerging tourism destinations and create new economic opportunities in rural and remote areas.
The Department of Tourism will act as the nodal department for implementation of the scheme in coordination with IDCO, OTDC, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, General Administration & Public Grievance Department, and other concerned agencies.
This initiative of the Government aims to play a transformative role in achieving Odisha’s long-term tourism vision. By creating a structured land bank of investment-ready land and modern tourism infrastructure, the State endeavours to attract more private investment in tourism sector, significantly increase tourist footfalls, increase quality accommodation capacity, strengthen local economy and establish Odisha as one of Asia’s premier tourisms.
Similarly, the state has also decided to implement Waterfront Development Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore over a period of five years.
The scheme aims to rejuvenate riverfronts and urban water bodies across selected cities, transforming them into vibrant, accessible, and environmentally sustainable public spaces, as per the statement.
This initiative seeks to restore ecological balance while enhancing the quality of life in urban areas. It focuses on developing continuous and inclusive waterfront spaces that cater to citizens, tourists, and local communities alike, an official said.
The government has decided to construct a women workers’ hostel in Kalibeti Industrial Area in Khurda at a cost of Rs 210 crore and approved a drinking water supply project worth Rs 112 crore for some part of Bhubaneswar city.
