Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to urban governance and infrastructure development, the Odisha government on Wednesday officially upgraded Puri Municipality to Puri Municipal Corporation.
A formal notification in this regard was issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said. The decision comes in view of Puri’s growing population, increasing tourist inflow, and its importance as a major pilgrimage centre.
Puri, a coastal city and home to the world-renowned Jagannath Temple, attracts thousands of devotees and tourists every day from across the country and abroad. The upgradation to Municipal Corporation status is expected to significantly strengthen civic administration and improve basic amenities and infrastructure for residents, pilgrims, and visitors.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had announced the proposal to grant Municipal Corporation status to Puri on July 3, highlighting the need for enhanced civic services, planned urban expansion, and large-scale infrastructure development in the holy city.
The move fulfils a long-standing demand of Puri residents, who have been seeking improved municipal services in line with the city’s expanding urban footprint. The issuance of the notification has triggered widespread celebrations among locals and people in the surrounding areas.
According to the CMO, the new Municipal Corporation status will pave the way for better governance, improved delivery of civic services, and the transformation of Puri into a larger metropolitan region.
The proposed Puri Municipal Corporation will comprise the existing municipal area along with nearby Gram Panchayats. The state government had earlier indicated that around seven to eight Gram Panchayats from the Puri Sadar and Brahmagiri blocks would be merged into the new civic body.
Meanwhile, the state government has also declared four other towns—Loisingha in Balangir district, Chandikhole in Jajpur district, Jashipur in Mayurbhanj district, and Basta in Balasore district—as Notified Area Councils (NACs).
In addition, the jurisdiction of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation has been expanded, as per a separate notification. The decision had earlier been announced by the Chief Minister during the Swayat Shasan Divas (Self-Governance Day) celebrations held on August 31.