Bhubaneswar, Sep 18: In a major push for infrastructure and cultural rejuvenation, the Odisha government has approved the ambitious Rs240 crore Mahanadi Riverfront Development Project, officials said on Thursday.

Spearheaded by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and supported by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the initiative aims to revitalize the riverbanks of Mahanadi, Kuakhai, and Kushabhadra, turning them into vibrant public spaces and eco-tourism hubs.

Double Engine Govt, Double Development
The project reflects the vision of a “double engine government” driving double development across Odisha. With Rs160 crore has been allocated for the Sambalpur stretch—from Mandalia to Chaunpur and Rs80 crore for the Kuakhai and Kushabhadra rivers near Pandara in Bhubaneswar, the scheme will be implemented between 2025–26 and 2027–282.

Also Read: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Hails Odisha’s Mahanandi Riverfront Tourism Push

Cultural, Ecological, and Economic Revival
The Mahanadi, often called the lifeline of Odisha, flows through key districts including Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, Cuttack, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur. The riverfront development plan aims to enhance its spiritual, cultural, and ecological significance. Facilities will include landscaped parks, jogging tracks, open gyms, bathing and aarti ghats, theme plazas, shopping complexes, floating jetties, bridges, lock gates, ring roads, and internal walkways.

Objectives of the Scheme
The primary objectives of the Mahanadi Riverfront Development Scheme are to enhance the riverbanks by providing essential social and cultural amenities, ensure structural integrity through erosion control and improved river engineering, and maintain clean water by implementing effective waste management and conservation practices.

The project also envisions sustainable development of surrounding regions, promoting tourism, water sports, and private investment. Residents of affected districts have expressed joy and optimism about the transformation.