Bhubaneswar/Mumbai: The Government of Odisha has initiated a comprehensive revision of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Bhubaneswar Town Centre District (BTCD), aiming to enhance urban infrastructure and improve connectivity around the city’s railway station.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra informed the Assembly that the redesign is necessitated by ongoing expansion works by the East Coast Railway and evolving urban needs around Master Canteen Square.
The project, initially spread across 8.12 acres and later expanded to nearly 12 acres, is being realigned with the redevelopment of the Bhubaneswar Railway Station. Planned features include a modern bus terminal, multi-level parking, commercial zones and mixed-use developments under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Envisioned under the Smart Cities Mission, BTCD is set to become Bhubaneswar’s first Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) hub, designed to promote seamless multimodal connectivity and pedestrian-friendly urban growth.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, India’s retail sector is witnessing a major transformation, as industry leaders gathered at the Great India Retail Summit held at the Jio World Convention Centre.
The summit, themed “India’s Blueprint for the World”, brought together top business leaders, global retail players and celebrities, highlighting India’s emergence as a rapidly growing consumer market.
Speaking at the event, Atul Ruia, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of The Phoenix Mills Ltd, said India is no longer a future opportunity but a present-day growth engine.
“Everybody’s eyes are on India… Today, India is the story for the world,” he noted, citing political stability, low inflation, high growth and a steady taxation regime as key factors making the country highly investable.
Industry experts pointed to rapid changes in consumer behaviour, including the rise of quick commerce, AI-driven retail and increasing demand from smaller cities, as indicators of India’s evolving economic landscape.
Together, these developments reflect India’s dual growth trajectory—modernising urban infrastructure while emerging as a global consumer and investment powerhouse.
-OdishaAge
