Aerial view of Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, July 17: Delimitation of wards in the twin cities has begun after the housing and urban development department sent a notification to this effect yesterday.

In Bhubaneswar, the exercise will be over by July 25 and the report will be sent to the state government. The draft notification will be ready by July 31, and objections will be entertained till August 9. The final list will be out by August 25. In Cuttack, the delimitation proposal will be sent to the department by July 31 and the draft notification will be ready by August 10. Objections will be addressed till August 20, and the final list will be out by August 25.

Sources said an increase in the number of wards could result from the exercise. There is a possibility of an increase of seven to eight wards in Bhubaneswar and six in Cuttack.

Director, municipal administration, Hrushikesh Tripathy said: “While deciding the new boundaries of the wards, officials will ensure that the geographical area is not divided by any NH, water body, or railway lines etc. If there is, the two areas should be separately assessed.”