City growth in stark contrast to planner’s vision
Bhubaneswar, India’s first planned city, was envisioned by German architect Otto Koenigsberger in 1948 as the modern capital for Odisha. Borrowed for a few weeks from the state of Mysore (present day Karnataka) by Harekrushna Mahtab, the then premier of Odisha, Koenigsberger designed the city on a linear plan with a focus on neighbourhood units — a concept aimed at fostering community living. His blueprint prioritized horizontal development over vertical growth, targeting a population of 40,000, primarily to serve administrative functions at the state headquarters.
The city was proposed around a few central arteries, with six self-contained units branching off, including Unit-V as the administrative cluster. Each unit was designed to house 5,000 to 6,000 people. Koenigsberger emphasized micro-climate control, incorporating green cover, wide roads, and natural storm-water drainage to ensure a wholesome environment.
While Otto laid the urban layout for Bhubaneswar, his direct involvement tapered off after 1949 when he moved to New Delhi to serve in the health ministry. The implementation of his plan was overseen by Julius Vaz, the state’s chief architect. During his tenure till 1961, Vaz added few more to the original six neighbourhood units and designed many of the city’s iconic buildings like the state assembly, secretariat, Rabindra Mandap, Raj Bhawan, etc.
Despite its thoughtful design, Bhubaneswar’s evolution diverged from Konigsberger’s vision over the years. The city’s rapid growth — driven by its status as an administrative, educational, economic and recently acclaimed sports hub — led to unplanned spread beyond the master plan’s boundaries. Areas emerged outside the original units, often lacking the cohesion of the planned zones. Urbanization encroached on surrounding agricultural lands and forests, raising concerns about sustainability and ecological balance.
Present-day Bhubaneswar starkly contrasts with the original vision of the planner. From a modest 38,211 residents in 1961, the population has surged close to two million now. The horizontal ethos gave way to high-rise apartments and commercial complexes. Infrastructure is not able to meet demand. The natural storm-water drainage, once a cornerstone, now struggles with flooding, while transportation networks strain under density of dwelling units and rapid increase in vehicular traffic.
BDA’s interim plans have been inconsistently implemented or outdated by rapid demographic growth and economic shifts. Absence of a unified long-term vision has deepened socio-economic divides, with slums now housing over a fourth of residents, contrasting sharply with upscale high-rises. Projects like the Smart City initiative aim to modernize Bhubaneswar, but without a robust CDP integrating land use, transportation, and sustainability, progress remains fragmented. This disorientation threatens the city’s identity as a planned urban centre, demanding urgent, holistic strategies to reclaim its lost coherence.
(The author is an entrepreneur living in Bhubaneswar for the last six decades)
The city was proposed around a few central arteries, with six self-contained units branching off, including Unit-V as the administrative cluster. Each unit was designed to house 5,000 to 6,000 people. Koenigsberger emphasized micro-climate control, incorporating green cover, wide roads, and natural storm-water drainage to ensure a wholesome environment.
While Otto laid the urban layout for Bhubaneswar, his direct involvement tapered off after 1949 when he moved to New Delhi to serve in the health ministry. The implementation of his plan was overseen by Julius Vaz, the state’s chief architect. During his tenure till 1961, Vaz added few more to the original six neighbourhood units and designed many of the city’s iconic buildings like the state assembly, secretariat, Rabindra Mandap, Raj Bhawan, etc.
Despite its thoughtful design, Bhubaneswar’s evolution diverged from Konigsberger’s vision over the years. The city’s rapid growth — driven by its status as an administrative, educational, economic and recently acclaimed sports hub — led to unplanned spread beyond the master plan’s boundaries. Areas emerged outside the original units, often lacking the cohesion of the planned zones. Urbanization encroached on surrounding agricultural lands and forests, raising concerns about sustainability and ecological balance.
Present-day Bhubaneswar starkly contrasts with the original vision of the planner. From a modest 38,211 residents in 1961, the population has surged close to two million now. The horizontal ethos gave way to high-rise apartments and commercial complexes. Infrastructure is not able to meet demand. The natural storm-water drainage, once a cornerstone, now struggles with flooding, while transportation networks strain under density of dwelling units and rapid increase in vehicular traffic.
BDA’s interim plans have been inconsistently implemented or outdated by rapid demographic growth and economic shifts. Absence of a unified long-term vision has deepened socio-economic divides, with slums now housing over a fourth of residents, contrasting sharply with upscale high-rises. Projects like the Smart City initiative aim to modernize Bhubaneswar, but without a robust CDP integrating land use, transportation, and sustainability, progress remains fragmented. This disorientation threatens the city’s identity as a planned urban centre, demanding urgent, holistic strategies to reclaim its lost coherence.
(The author is an entrepreneur living in Bhubaneswar for the last six decades)
