Bhubaneswar, Jan 6: Housing and urban development minister Debi Prasad Mishra today held discussions with senior government officials for finalising the comprehensive development plan (CDP) for Berhampur, Gopalpur, Chhatrapur and Rourkela.

The town and country planning organisation (ITPO) under the Union ministry of urban development has prepared the CDP for these four towns.

As per the plan, a ring road will be built around the Berhampur city.

The Berhampur Development Authority will play a crucial role in building the ring roads with financial assistance from the government of Odisha. Steps would be taken to rehabilitate the slum dwellers.

Steps would also be taken for infrastructure development, sewerage and drainage of Rourkela, Berhampur, Chhatrapur and Gopalpur. Steps would also be taken for infrastructure development, sewerage and drainage, roads, sanitation, drinking water supply, health facilities and development of tourism, heritage and culture.

“We will soon prepare a proposal for the zonal development plan for Rourkela, Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur,” said an official.

Mishra said steps would be taken to make Rourkela and Berhampur as tourism and educational hubs. Steel city of Rourkela would also be developed as an Industrial and educational hub.

Officials sources said as the Rourkela Steel Plant, National Institute of Technology (NIT) and Biju Patnaik University of Technology are situated in the steel city, it has the potential to be developed as one of the prominent industrial and educational hubs of the state within a span of seven years.