BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha cabinet has approved a new scheme titled “Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure” aimed at strengthening tourism-led economic growth and attracting large-scale investments in the hospitality sector across the state.
The scheme envisages the creation of a dedicated Tourism Land Bank under the Department of Tourism to address the shortage of readily available, contiguous, encroachment-free, and investment-ready land for tourism projects.
Under the initiative, around 5,500 acres of government and private land parcels will be identified and developed across major tourism destinations in Odisha.
These include Chilika, Konark, Puri (Shamuka), Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, the Buddhist Circuit, Jiranga, Talsari and Tampara-Aryapalli. Additional destinations may be included in the future based on tourism potential and development requirements.
The scheme will be implemented over five years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with an annual outlay of Rs 300 crore, taking the total financial implication to Rs 1,500 crore.
According to the government, the proposed Tourism Land Bank will support destination-level master planning and provide investors with access to infrastructure-ready land parcels, helping reduce project gestation periods and improve ease of doing business.
The initiative is expected to facilitate investments in hotels, resorts, convention centres, eco-tourism projects, wellness retreats, recreational facilities, and other tourism-related infrastructure.
The government said the scheme has been designed as a state-wide intervention to promote balanced regional development and support the growth of emerging tourism destinations.
It is also expected to generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities, tourism service providers, artisans, entrepreneurs, and youth.
The Department of Tourism will serve as the nodal agency for implementation in coordination with IDCO, OTDC, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the General Administration and Public Grievance Department, and other concerned agencies.
The government said the initiative would help attract greater private investment in the tourism sector, expand quality accommodation capacity, strengthen local economies, and advance Odisha’s long-term vision of becoming a leading tourism destination in India and Asia.
