BDA Signs MoU with Singapore's Surbana Jurong for Bhubaneswar New City Master Plan

What was decided

The specific decision recorded here is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on January 17, 2025, between the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Singapore's Surbana Jurong Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (SJI). A major milestone in the initiative came with the signing of an MoU between BDA and Surbana Jurong Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (SJI), Singapore, on January 17, 2025, in the presence of the President of Singapore and the Chief Minister of Odisha.

Under the MoU, SJI will provide consultancy and advisory support for master planning and urban infrastructure development in the greenfield township proposed at Gothapatna, Malipada and Daspur. This was a framework/consultancy tie-up, not a construction contract or land-transfer order — it authorised SJI to begin technical work on the master plan rather than committing funds for building.

Who decided, and the wider Cabinet approval

The MoU was signed at the BDA level, but the scheme it supports was subsequently taken up by the state government. On September 10, 2025, the Odisha Cabinet — chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi — gave in-principle approval to the 'New City Development' scheme. The decision was taken at the 26th meeting of the Cabinet held at Lok Seva Bhawan, signalling the state government's commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and sustainable urban hub in the capital region. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja briefed the media that the proposed new city will be developed over nearly 800 acres within the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA), covering Gothapatna, Malipada, and Daspur mouzas.

This Cabinet approval formally recognised the New City as a state policy scheme and designated BDA as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme, which is currently in various stages of planning and early execution.

Operative details: area, location and scope

The scheme covers nearly 800 acres of land across Gothapatna, Malipada, and Daspur, and is envisioned as a multi-economic growth zone aligned with the state's long-term vision Vikshit Odisha 2036. A separate BDA statement put the exact figure at 821.964 acres on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Design intent, as described by officials, is for a transit-oriented development: the new city will be developed as a transit-oriented township, with focus on efficient public transport, reduced travel distances, and seamless access to a well-integrated mix of land uses. It is meant to ensure "Housing for All" by offering diverse housing options for all income groups based on affordability and necessity, and to include state-of-the-art infrastructure, including MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) facilities, innovation hubs, plug-and-play infrastructure, and data management centers.

A BDA official separately indicated the township is planned to house around 2 lakh residents, with connectivity works including a four-lane road from Naka Gate Square to Kateni, e-bus (Mo Bus) service, and Bhubaneswar Metro linkage.

Investment and funding

The project's estimated cost is an estimated investment of Rs 8,179 crore over 15 years, combining public and private funding. For the first phase, an initial allocation of Rs 1,342 crore has been earmarked in the state budget for 2025–26 to 2029–30 to cover land acquisition, road construction, core infrastructure, public amenities, and contingencies (one report cites a slightly different figure of Rs 1,312 crore for the same period).

Separately, the BDA Vice-Chairman gave a cost split at a public briefing: the project would require Rs 8,169 crore, with Rs 6,069 crore allocated for built-up space and Rs 2,100 crore for infrastructure, with possible central government financial assistance. Ahead of the Cabinet approval, the state's 2025-26 Budget (tabled in February 2025) had already flagged the scheme with a Rs 200 crore initial allocation, describing an initial 322-hectare development to be later scaled up to 3,600 hectares.

The follow-on consultancy agreement (March 2026)

Beyond the January 2025 MoU, BDA and SJI subsequently signed a more detailed working agreement for master plan preparation. Reports place this signing on a Tuesday (March 31, 2026), naming the specific signatories: BDA Secretary Manas Ranjan Padhi and Surbana Jurong's Deputy Director Manideep Dutta, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner and Nodal Officer (New City) Bhabataran Sahu, Associate Town Planner Omkar Mohanty, Assistant Town Planner Manasi Mohanty, and PMU Team Leader Ajay Jha. This agreement reiterated the same 800-acre scope across Gothapatna, Malipada and Daspur and confirmed BDA's role as nodal implementing agency.

Practical effect

Together, these decisions move the New City from concept to an active planning pipeline:

• The January 2025 MoU gave SJI a formal mandate to begin master-plan and infrastructure-advisory work.
• The September 2025 Cabinet approval converted the concept into an approved state scheme with a nodal agency (BDA) and a budget line.
• The March 2026 detailed agreement operationalised the consultancy relationship at the working level.

Separately, the state's Housing and Urban Development Minister has said BDA has already initiated the land acquisition process for the project. As of these reports, no RERA registration, final layout plan, or plot/rate schedule for the New City had been published — investors and residents should treat the project as being in the master-planning and land-assembly stage, not yet open for allotment or construction.