Orissa is one of the
least urbanized states in India, with 11.8 percent of urban
population to total population. But the process of urbanization
in Orissa as compared to India is characterized by the high rate of
urban growth. Orissa has registered a higher urban growth
between 1951 and 1981, in that the urban population of this State
increased by 5.2 times, against 2.5 times increase in an all India
basis.
According to the 1981
census, the Class I towns having a population of one lakh and above
(6 towns) have taken the largest share of urban population of 35.53
percent to total urban population of 33.1 lakh, out of which Cuttack
and Bhubaneswar alone with a population of 3.27 and 2.19 lakh
respectively account for about 17.5 percent of the State’s urban
population.
Cuttack city had the
distinction of being the capital of Orissa before the formation of
the new capital of Bhubaneswar. But it plays an important role
as the ‘commercial capital’ of the entire region, very similar to
the role played by the district of Ernakulam and Cochin city in
Kerala. Notwithstanding the fact that Bhubaneswar is the
Capital of Orissa, the administrative and the institutional
importance of Cuttack has not dwindled as yet, and a number of
important government offices with statewide jurisdiction including
the High Court, are located in the city. This status is enjoyed
by in Kerala by this one district. Also in the case of major
developments like the proliferation of high cost luxury
Villas Ernakulam district
has a prominent place above the rest.
Bhubaneswar became the
capital of Orissa in 1948 and since then the various Departments of
the Government have been shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar.
Gradually a number of State-level offices and institutions have come
up in the capital city. Bhubaneswar continues as the principal
administrative center of the state, a center of industrial
activities, and continues to attract a number of institutions of
national importance.
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