Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha Cabinet approved the Department of tourist’s “Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure” proposal on Monday, marking a significant step toward bolstering tourist infrastructure and drawing substantial private investment. By making investment-ready property accessible for the construction of top-notch hospitality and tourist facilities throughout the state, the historic initiative aims to provide a strong basis for tourism-led economic growth.
The creation of jobs, economic growth, and regional prosperity are all significantly influenced by tourism. Under Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Odisha 2047, Odisha has set an ambitious goal to become one of the top eco-tourism and cultural tourism destinations in India and Asia by utilizing its rich natural landscapes, cultural heritage, spiritual centers, wildlife resources, and coastal attractions.
The absence of easily accessible, adjacent, encroachment-free, and investment-ready land parcels has been a significant obstacle in the development of tourism infrastructure. The Cabinet authorized the establishment of a special Tourism Land Bank under the Department of Tourism in order to address this problem.
Approximately 5,500 acres of public and private land parcels will be found and developed among Odisha’s main tourist attractions as part of the program. Chilika, Konark, Puri (Shamuka), Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, the Buddhist Circuit, Jiranga, Talsari, and Tampara-Aryapalli are a few of them. Depending on the potential for tourism and the needs for development, more locations could be included in the future.
With an annual investment of ₹300 crore, the initiative would be executed over a five-year period from FY 2026–2027 to FY 2030–2031, with a total anticipated financial effect of ₹1,500 crore. The government claims that the planned Tourism Land Bank will shorten project gestation periods and improve ease of doing business by facilitating destination-level master planning and giving investors access to land parcels ready for infrastructure.
