Bhubaneswar, April 12: The state government has given the go-ahead to the development authority's town-planning scheme, paving the way for the overhaul of a 746 acre space on the city outskirts.

The scheme, a first for the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, will see the overall infrastructure development, including roads, drains and open spaces, of Sahajpur, Naragoda, Sijuput and Paikarapur areas.

The housing and urban development department issued the final notification for the scheme after the development authority submitted the draft proposal last September. They plan to begin work within a month. "We began the process of the scheme in 2015 and issued a notification inviting objections and suggestions from the population affected early last year. We amended the proposal based on those inputs and submitted the final one for approval last September," said the development authority's vice-chairman, Krishan Kumar.

In the initial stages, the development authority will take up construction of the main and internal roads.

The funds will be raised from its infrastructure development fund to meet the cost for the initial work.

According to the scheme, 40 per cent of the total land (about 298 acres) would be used to develop infrastructure such as roads, for-sale residential and commercial open spaces, garden and public amenities, while the remainder would be developed and returned to the landowners.

Sources said about 3,000 land owners in the area would benefit from the scheme since they will get back their land in an area with good roads, drains and other infrastructure. Officials had a tough time sensitising the people affected since they initially thought that they would be evicted.

"We held several meetings with land owners and other stakeholders. We chose the area since it is the most unplanned area under our jurisdiction. Once we develop it, people will benefit. The local residents understood that and decided to co-operate with us," said an official.

An official said once the work began, it would take at least a year to develop basic infrastructure. In the next stage, the administration would take up similar such projects. The scheme would be limited to areas under its jurisdiction.

"It is a good plan to take up the work in such a manner. It is like we gave our land to someone and got it back to find it's developed. We realise that we are losing nothing by this. We will get good houses and developed localities," said Paikarapur resident Biranchi Narayan Sahoo.