THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 18, 2026

Kuldeep Narayan, Joint Secretary (Housing for All), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, on Saturday conducted a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-U 2.0 in Odisha, highlighting the state’s strides in inclusive and sustainable urban housing.

During his visit to Bhubaneswar, Narayan inspected three key housing project sites representing different verticals of the flagship scheme. He began with the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) project at Buddha Vihar in Chandrasekharpur, where he assessed the progress of housing units aimed at providing affordable and quality living spaces for urban beneficiaries.

He then visited Hare Krushna Nagar near Saileshree Vihar, developed under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) vertical. Interacting with residents, Narayan appreciated the state’s efforts in enabling individual house construction and ensuring timely delivery to beneficiaries.

A highlight of the visit was the inspection of the Pragati Bihar Slum redevelopment project under PMAY-U 2.0. The initiative stands out as a pioneering inclusive housing model, with 44 houses sanctioned — 34 of them for members of the transgender community. Designed with technical support from noted architect Ashok B. Lall in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the project showcases sustainable, climate-responsive, and energy-efficient housing solutions. Features such as thermally comfortable designs, use of eco-friendly construction materials, rooftop solar systems, and energy-efficient appliances underline its forward-looking approach. Narayan lauded the initiative as a progressive step towards equitable and environmentally responsible urban development.

Following the field visits, Narayan chaired a high-level review meeting at Kharvela Bhavan with Odisha’s Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Usha Padhee, along with senior officials from the department, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The meeting focused on the overall progress of PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0 in Odisha, reviewing achievements, challenges, and priority areas. Narayan emphasized the need for timely project completion, stringent quality standards, and enhanced beneficiary satisfaction. He also offered strategic guidance on policy interventions and reform measures to strengthen the effective rollout of PMAY-U 2.0.

The discussions underscored the importance of innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in realizing the vision of “Housing for All.” The visit reaffirmed the commitment of both the Central and State Governments to accelerate urban housing initiatives and ensure dignified living conditions for every section of society.