Odisha to Add Four New Tehsils to Strengthen Local Governance

Move aims to improve administrative efficiency, land services, and public outreach across fast-growing regions

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step toward decentralised governance, the Odisha Government has approved the creation of four new tehsils to enhance administrative efficiency and ensure faster delivery of public services. With this decision, the total number of tehsils in the state will rise from 317 to 321, marking a targeted expansion of grassroots administration.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has formally issued letters to the District Collectors of Khurda, Cuttack, and Sambalpur, instructing them to begin groundwork for establishing the new tehsils. Officials said the move will address rising demands for revenue services driven by population growth, expanding urban areas, and increasing land-related activities.

According to the plan, two tehsils will be carved out within Bhubaneswar to manage the capital city’s rapidly growing administrative demands. Meanwhile, one tehsil each will be set up in Cuttack district and Sambalpur district, where increased developmental activities and service loads have created the need for additional administrative units.

District Collectors have been asked to prepare detailed proposals, including boundary demarcations, staffing requirements, infrastructure needs, and resource allocation. The concerned Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) have also been instructed to complete all preliminary processes within seven days, underscoring the urgency behind the government’s decision.

Tehsils—being essential administrative units—play a pivotal role in managing land revenue, maintaining land records, issuing certificates, and ensuring access to key public services such as registration, mutation, and welfare benefits. Increasing their number, officials said, will reduce the workload on existing tehsils and help citizens secure services without delays.

The state government believes the new units will particularly benefit fast-developing zones within Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, where demand for revenue-related services has surged due to rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, and migration. In rural parts of Sambalpur district, the new tehsil is expected to bring governance closer to remote pockets and streamline land record management.

Officials added that the creation of new tehsils aligns with Odisha’s broader governance reforms aimed at improving accessibility, transparency, and response time for citizens across districts.

As the next step, the Revenue Department is expected to finalise staffing norms, office locations, and budget requirements before officially notifying the new tehsils. Once operational, the four new administrative units are anticipated to significantly ease public service delivery and strengthen the state’s grassroots governance framework.