On July 5, 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that Puri, a renowned pilgrimage and tourist site in Odisha, will also become a municipal corporation. This decision comes in advance of the Bahuda Yatra, and it will allow Puri to better handle the basic facilities a town like Puri requires due to its large visitor numbers annually.
Puri will be the Sixth Municipal Corporation
Puri is the sixth municipal corporation in Odisha, joining Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Rourkela. The Chief Minister indicated that this will enable improved roads, cleanliness, water supply, drainage, and other civic amenities. The areas surrounding Puri city will fall under the new corporation, including 7–8 nearby gram panchayats from Puri Sadar and Brahmagiri Blocks.
Rationale for Upgrading
According to CM Mohan Charan Majhi, the decision was based on the increasing population within the metropolitan area, and the large number of devotees and tourists to Puri throughout the year. He noted that planning in the current municipality is not able to cover the needs of the city with respect to population growth, especially during large festivals like the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra when lakhs of people visit the town. The upgradation process will begin on Saturday July 6, 2025.
Puri gets new development projects
As part of the development of Puri, Odisha CM announced plans for a Shree Jagannath Museum, Library, and Research Centre along with the redevelopment plans. The museum will include artworks and sculptures depicting the history, rituals, and culture of Lord Jagannath. The library will hold all published works on Jagannath and Odia traditions. The research centre will support study on Jagannath and Odia traditions, culture, and history. A 300-seat auditorium will be constructed to show light and sound shows depicting stories of Lord Jagannath.
The government’s plan for the future of Puri in 2036
The Odisha government is planning to transform Puri into a premier spiritual and tourism city by 2036. The CM explained that clean, green, and modern Puri will work to create a better Odisha. This announcement was made as part of the Rath Yatra announcement, as part of the government’s improvement plans for the infrastructure and amenities of Puri for residents and tourists.
