Puri is no longer just a pilgrimage destination — the region is being reimagined with ambitious infrastructure, heritage works, coastal zone upgrades and digital initiatives. These projects, launched by the government or private partners, will directly influence how easy it is to visit, stay, move around, and enjoy Puri. Below is a sector-wise breakdown of what’s underway or announced.
Key Projects & Announcements Likely to Impact Puri Tourism
Air & Regional Connectivity
- The Puri International / Greenfield Airport (Shree Jagannath International Airport) is being developed on ~1,164 acres at an estimated cost of ₹5,631 crore in phases.
- This airport is expected to bring direct connectivity and reduce travel time for pilgrims and tourists.
- A proposed high-speed or six-lane corridor linking the new airport and Biju Patnaik International Airport is also part of the plan.
- Environmental clearances are in advanced stages; the forest-land clearance has seen delays due to ecological concerns (coastal and turtle habitat)
Rail & Mass Transit Improvements
- The Puri–Konark Railway Line (32 km) has been approved at ~₹492 crore to better link the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and the UNESCO heritage Sun Temple at Konark.
- It is expected to ease heritage-tourism flow and enable “one station, one product” income for local vendors.
- This project also helps integrate spiritual and coastal-tourism routes.
- A survey for a new Bhubaneswar–Konark line via Gop / Nimapada is in progress.
Roads, Highways & Corridors
- The Puri–Bhubaneswar highway is slated to be expanded to 8 lanes to cope with tourism traffic.
- Other roads around Puri–Satapada and Pipili–Konark are being upgraded to 4-lane status.
- The Bh-Cu-Pu-Paradip Economic Corridor (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip) is part of the state’s plan to unify core infrastructure & industrial growth across these connected cities.
Heritage, Temple, Urban Upgrades & Tourist Amenities
- The Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor (Shree Mandir Parikrama / SJHC) — a 75-m wide corridor around the Jagannath Temple — has been completed / inaugurated to ease darshan circulation, provide amenities, and beautify surroundings.
- Urban-renaissance initiatives around the Jagannath temple complex, crowd-management, restoration of Atharanala, upgrade of Gundicha Temple area, and stricter regulations on nearby old/dangerous buildings.
- A Special Tourism Area called “Shamuka Tourism Area” (920 acres) is in planning/early development stage — intended to be a high-standard coastal tourist zone.
- Infrastructure projects under IDCO include “Urban Haat” hubs in Puri, and the designation of Puri as a Special Tourism Area under state schemes.
Digital, Utilities & Technology Infrastructure
- A Cable Landing Station (CLS) is proposed in Puri to strengthen digital / internet infrastructure, bring fiber connectivity, attract tech/IT investments.
- Upgrades in public safety and surveillance (CCTV, command & control) are also being considered in pilgrimage / urban precincts (as part of broader Odisha proposals). (While not Puri-specific in news, the state is requesting ₹1,000 cr for CCTV expansion across districts including Puri)
Adventure Tourism / Marine / Water Sports
- A national scuba diving training centre is slated to be set up in Ramachandi area of Puri district. This aims to combine rescue training capability with promoting underwater sport.
- Coastal / beach enhancements in the Puri shoreline and linked infrastructure (parking, promenades, lighting) are expected to pick up in tandem with tourist influx and the Shamuka area development. (Implicit in multiple planning schemes)
Municipal / Governance Upgrades
- Puri’s upgrade to a Municipal Corporation (the sixth in Odisha) is part of its elevation to “world-class spiritual & tourist city” status by 2036.
- This municipal upgrade implies more administrative capacity for civic services like drainage, street lighting, waste management, and urban governance needed in a high-flux pilgrimage city.