THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 23, 2026

Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Sunday emphasised the need for efficient, responsive and accountable Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to accelerate sustainable urban transformation in Odisha, with timely project completion and improved service delivery at the core of municipal governance.

Addressing the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 here, Mahapatra reiterated the state government's commitment to planned infrastructure growth and citizen-centric urban services, saying municipal bodies must raise their efficiency and delivery standards in line with the growing aspirations of urban citizens.

The Housing & Urban Development Department organised the conclave at the Convention Centre Auditorium, Lok Seva Bhawan, as a comprehensive review-cum-orientation programme for ULBs across the state.

Speaking to the media, the Minister outlined the government's developmental roadmap and governance reforms aimed at accelerating urban development while ensuring that municipal bodies remain accountable and responsive to citizens. He stressed that effective implementation, timely completion of projects and improved service delivery should remain central to urban governance.

Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD Department, Usha Padhee, in her welcome address, set the context for the conclave and outlined the broader vision and priorities for transforming Odisha's urban landscape. She emphasised the need for stronger institutional capacity, improved municipal performance, effective financial management and outcome-oriented implementation of urban development programmes.

The conclave brought together senior government officials, municipal functionaries, urban planners, technical experts and other stakeholders to review the progress of urban development initiatives and deliberate on strategies for efficient, sustainable and citizen-centric urban governance.

The morning technical sessions focused on budget and financial management, revenue augmentation, expenditure analysis and performance improvement of ULBs, including dedicated reviews of low-performing municipal bodies. The deliberations aimed at strengthening municipal finances while enhancing efficiency, accountability and the quality of grassroots service delivery.

Detailed discussions were also held on urban planning and infrastructure development, covering Standard Operating Procedures for Town Planning Schemes, the Samruddha Sahar framework, the Urban Challenge Fund, planned development of Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikas Yojana, pedestrian-friendly roads and the Rural-Urban Transition Policy.

The sessions highlighted the need for integrated planning and infrastructure development to ensure that Odisha's urban growth remains inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

Progress of several citizen-centric welfare programmes, including PM SVANidhi, Shelters for Urban Homeless, Sahajog, Sahajog Plus and the Aahaar scheme, was also reviewed, with emphasis on effective implementation and better outreach to intended beneficiaries.

The afternoon sessions turned the spotlight on technology-enabled governance and urban services, including e-governance through the SUJOG platform, housing initiatives under PMAY-U 2.0 and Affordable Rental Housing, urban mobility, expansion of the CRUT city bus network and strengthening of solid and liquid waste management systems.

The discussions underlined the importance of technology-driven governance, accessible housing, sustainable mobility and scientific waste management in creating liveable and resilient cities.

A dedicated Technical Symposium on Used Water Management was organised in parallel, bringing together engineering teams, technical experts and practitioners from leading institutions and organisations. Specialists from CPHEEO, IIT Palakkad, IIT Roorkee, IIT Bhubaneswar, CEEW, CSE, OWSSB and the Water Resources Department participated in the deliberations.

The symposium examined emerging approaches to decentralised wastewater treatment, STP/FSTP biosolids management and standards, urban drainage, safe reuse of treated wastewater and sustainable used-water management.

The technical sessions provided a platform for practitioners and experts to exchange knowledge and explore scalable solutions suited to the diverse requirements of Odisha's urban areas.

The symposium concluded with industry presentations showcasing innovative technologies and solutions, including low-footprint Sewage Treatment Plants, vacuum sewerage conveyance systems and mechanised sludge management solutions.