Bhubaneswar, Nov. 10 -- The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun the formal process to expand its administrative boundaries, proposing the inclusion of 71 villages across 14 panchayats situated on the city's outskirts, officials said on Monday.

According to sources, village-level reports from three blocks have already been submitted to the BMC Commissioner. The corporation will proceed with the merger only after receiving feasibility clearance from the Housing and Urban Development Department.

While the move aims to bring peripheral areas under improved urban governance, concerns have surfaced over infrastructure readiness, resource management, and representation in civic administration once the merger is finalised.

Accord...