BHUBANESWAR: Taking a proactive step to check unplanned growth around the capital city, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has submitted an Interim Development Plan (IDP) to the government to develop the area in the east of Kuakhai river for both residential and commercial use.

Dubbing the new initiative as the first fringe area development plan, the BDA has already prepared an elaborate sketch taking geographical area of as many as eight villages along the National Highway 5 on the east side of Kuakhai. The villages that have been included in the `new city' are Nakhara, Banguari, Jhohala, Jaipur, Pahala, Haridaspur, Rudrapur and Naharakanta.

Main objective

"Government is actively considering the IDP submitted by the BDA. The objective of the East Kuakhai New City plan is to infuse planning into the development of the area," Special Secretary in the Housing and Urban Development Department Arun Panda told The Hindu on Thursday.

The government has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning of IIT, Kharagapur, to prepare a comprehensive development plan (CDP) for the capital region. The area, which spreads over 720 sq km with a total population of 15.8 lakhs, will include Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Urban Complex and a few Class II and Class III towns such as Khurda, Jatani and Choudwar.

"We, however, will not wait till the Kharagpur IIT submits the CDP. We are not sure when they will complete the development plan. Our intention is to put an immediate halt to erratic development just outside the capital city," Mr. Panda said.

The hurdle

The IDP for the New City has identified separate patches for residential, institutional, commercial and recreational areas. The low-lying pockets in the area have also been spotted for proper development, an official said.

The IDP has taken all factors such as projected traffic congestion over the next 20 years and people's travel pattern with a view to reduce fuel consumption in the proposed project area.

Private participation

However, the only hurdle the administration is facing for the New City is lack of adequate government land to execute the development plans.

Participation of the private sector is being contemplated to overcome the problems of land and resources.

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