Pilgrim city Puri to become Odisha’s Sixth Municipal Corporation

By Sukant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, July 4: In a landmark move, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday announced that Puri Municipality will be upgraded to a Municipal Corporation, making it the sixth in Odisha.

The decision comes in response to the pilgrim town’s rising population, increasing pilgrimage footfall, and evolving urban infrastructure needs. Addressing a press briefing, the Chief Minister said a modern administrative framework is essential for a city of Puri’s religious, cultural, and tourism significance.

Citing the steady influx of devotees to the world-renowned Jagannath Temple and the town’s growing urban footprint, Majhi emphasised the necessity for restructuring to ensure improved governance, infrastructure development, and public service delivery.

As part of the proposed expansion, ten adjoining panchayats will be merged into the Puri urban limits. This integration, the Chief Minister noted, will help strengthen planning, coordination, and development efforts under the new municipal corporation framework.

“The process to convert Puri Municipality into a Municipal Corporation will formally commence tomorrow,” Majhi informed, setting the stage for comprehensive administrative reforms aimed at managing the city’s future growth and civic challenges.

Once upgraded, Puri will join the ranks of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela as the sixth municipal corporation in the state.

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Photograph: Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri