Puri to Become Odisha’s Sixth Municipal Corporation

Puri, a famous pilgrimage and tourist town in Odisha, will now become a municipal corporation, as announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on July 5, 2025. This move comes ahead of the Bahuda Yatra and is aimed at improving basic facilities in the town, which sees large numbers of visitors every year.

Puri to Be the Sixth Municipal Corporation

Puri will now join Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Rourkela as the sixth municipal corporation in Odisha. The Chief Minister said that the new status will help improve roads, cleanliness, water supply, drainage, and other civic services in Puri. Areas around Puri city, including 7–8 nearby gram panchayats from Puri Sadar and Brahmagiri blocks, will also be included in the new corporation.

Reason for Upgradation

CM Mohan Charan Majhi said the decision was taken because of the increasing population and the large number of devotees and tourists who visit Puri throughout the year. He said the present municipality cannot handle the growing needs of the city, especially during large festivals like the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra, when lakhs of people gather. The upgradation process will start from Saturday, July 6, 2025.

New Projects for Puri

Along with the upgrade, the CM also announced plans for a Shree Jagannath Museum, Library, and Research Centre. The museum will display the history, rituals, and culture of Lord Jagannath through art and sculpture. The library will hold books on Jagannath and Odia traditions, while the research centre will support studies on the same topics. A 300-seat auditorium will be built to show light and sound shows based on Lord Jagannath’s stories.

Government’s Vision for 2036

The Odisha government plans to make Puri a top spiritual and tourist city by the year 2036. The CM said that a clean, green, and modern Puri will help build a better Odisha. This announcement, made during the Rath Yatra, is part of the government’s plan to improve the city’s facilities for both residents and visitors.