Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government aimed at increasing the number of planned cities in line with its vision of Bikshit Odisha 2036, said Minister Housing and Urban Development Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Monday.
Chairing a high-level review meeting to assess the functions of the development authorities under his department in Bhubaneswar, the Minister emphasised the significance of urban development in Odisha’s overall progress.
“Currently, only 17% of Odisha’s urban areas are planned townships, which we aim to increase to 30%. New cities will be built and older cities will be revitalised to simplify urbanisation and enable better living standards for all,” he said.
Mohapatra highlighted that the development of planned cities would be a cornerstone of Odisha’s growth strategy. By adopting proactive agendas and addressing existing challenges, urbanisation would serve as a key driver for a Biksit Odisha 2036.
Building on successful implementation of the TP scheme by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), efforts will be made to extend this initiative to other cities across the state.
Development authorities were instructed to leverage government-owned land under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to boost revenue and fast-track urban infrastructure projects.
The minister said in order to address the need for professional expertise in urban planning, the government would prioritise filling all vacant posts to ensure effective implementation of development initiatives.
Special focus would be given to older cities where housing construction is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, particularly roads. Renovation of these areas would enable smoother urbanisation and allow people to construct houses with ease, he added.
The meeting also discussed comprehensive sewage and drainage projects in Berhampur and new TP schemes for Greater Sambalpur and Greater Rourkela.
In her welcome remarks principal secretary Usha Padhee underscored the role of the Housing and Urban Development Department in shaping Odisha’s urban future. She urged development authorities to adapt to evolving needs and adopt a people-centric approach in their work.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, special secretaries Debashis Singh and Sushant Mishra as well as vice-chairpersons and representatives from various development authorities, including BDA, CDA, and agencies from Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Puri-Konark, Kalinganagar, Paradip, and Talcher-Angul-Naraj.
