Cuttack, Sep 12: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the ambitious Mahanadi Riverfront Development Project, set to be implemented between 2025–26 and 2027–28 with an estimated budget of ₹240 crore. The project will be funded entirely by the state government through the Department of Water Resources Development.

Declaring the Mahanadi as Odisha’s lifeline, the Chief Minister emphasized the plan’s focus on transforming key riverfront locations into hubs for environmental, cultural, and spiritual tourism, which are expected to significantly boost the state’s economy.

The initiative aims to provide social and cultural amenities to urban areas along the river, including the development of recreational parks, science parks, and herbal gardens. It also includes measures for riverbank erosion control, structural regulation, and waste management.

Additionally, the project will support water conservation efforts to ensure drinking water supply during dry seasons and promote sustainable development in surrounding regions.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister via a post on X, acknowledging the approval of the project under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.