Mahanadi Riverfront to Get Rs 240Cr Makeover to Become Cultural and Eco-Tourism Hub
Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to urban development and tourism, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday approved the ambitious Mahanadi River Front Development Project, which aims to turn the banks of the river into thriving hubs of ecology, culture, and tourism.
The Rs 240-crore project, fully funded by the state government, will be executed over three years from 2025 to 2028 under the Water Resources Development Department. The initiative seeks to reshape the identity of the Mahanadi—described by the CM as the “lifeline of Odisha” by integrating cultural, spiritual, and environmental tourism with sustainable development.
In its first phase, Rs 160 crore will be invested to develop stretches from Mandalia to Chaunrapur in Sambalpur. Facilities will include jogging tracks, open gyms, ghats, parks, shopping complexes, and more. The second phase, with a Rs 80 crore outlay, will enhance the Kuakhai and Kushabhadra riverbanks near Bhubaneswar, featuring jetties, scenic points, bridges, and eco-friendly amenities.Apart from promoting tourism, the project aims to control erosion, conserve water, manage waste, and rejuvenate the river ecosystem, positioning the riverfront as a model for integrated development.
