The Government of Odisha on September 23, 2026, issued the Odisha Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to further amend the Odisha Development Authorities Act, 1982.
The following has been amended, namely:
• The amendment introduces a new Chapter IIA providing for the establishment of Economic Region Development Authorities (ERDAs) to facilitate coordinated and integrated development across two or more existing development authorities or local authorities. Under Sections 7A and 7B, the State Government may notify an Economic Region and constitute an ERDA as a body corporate with perpetual succession and the power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, enter into contracts, and sue or be sued. The Authority shall be chaired by the Chief Minister, with the Minister in charge of Housing and Urban Development as Vice-Chairperson, and shall include relevant Ministers, senior government officials, district collectors, representatives of urban and rural local bodies, development authorities, infrastructure agencies and up to two nominated experts. A Chief Commissioner, appointed by the State Government at the rank of Secretary or above, shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer and oversee day-to-day administration, implementation of decisions, personnel supervision and financial management.
• The amendment also provides for an Executive Committee and an Inter-Departmental Coordination Committee to facilitate project implementation and coordination across government departments. Under Sections 7J to 7P, the ERDA shall prepare and implement Regional Development Plans, regulate land use and development permissions, plan and execute major infrastructure projects, promote investment and industrial development, coordinate regional transport and logistics networks, and align the plans of existing development authorities and local bodies with the approved Regional Development Plan.
• The Authority may acquire land, develop industrial parks and investment zones, levy development and user charges, enter into infrastructure partnerships, mobilise funds with State Government approval, and issue binding directions to authorities operating within the notified region. A Regional Development Plan shall be prepared within two years of notification of the Economic Region, and other development plans shall conform to the approved regional plan.
• The amendment further provides for a Regional Development Fund, borrowing and resource mobilisation, annual budgets and activity reports, annual auditing of accounts, delegation of powers, and the State Government’s authority to issue binding directions. The commencement of Sections 2 to 4 shall be notified by the State Government in the Official Gazette, which may appoint different dates for different provisions.
[Notification No. - 6279/LA]
