THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JULY 11, 2026
In a major boost to
sustainable urbanisation and climate-resilient infrastructure, the Housing
& Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, today facilitated the
signing of a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the
establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Low-Carbon Construction Materials
and Sustainable Development. The initiative aims to accelerate research,
innovation, capacity building, and the adoption of sustainable construction
practices, reinforcing Odisha's vision of building cleaner, greener, and
future-ready cities.
The MoU was signed
between the Odisha Urban Academy (OUA), IIT Bhubaneswar, and Development
Alternatives by Suvendu Sahu, Director, Odisha Urban Academy; Prof. Dinakar
Pasla, School of Infrastructure, IIT Bhubaneswar; and Shashtant Patara, CEO,
Development Alternatives. The signing took place in the presence of the
Minister for Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises, Dr.
Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, and Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban
Development Department, Usha Padhee. The programme commenced with a welcome
address by Binaya Kumar Dash, Special Secretary, Housing & Urban
Development Department, and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
Addressing the
gathering, Dr. Mahapatra said that under the visionary leadership of Chief
Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha is steadily advancing towards the goal of
becoming a Viksit Odisha by 2036, making a meaningful contribution to the
national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised that urban development
must go beyond the creation of physical infrastructure and focus on improving
citizens' quality of life through environmentally responsible planning,
high-quality public infrastructure, and efficient civic services. Describing
the Centre of Excellence as a transformative initiative, he said it would serve
as a premier knowledge and innovation hub for promoting sustainable urban
development across the State.
As its first flagship
initiative, the Centre of Excellence will prepare a comprehensive roadmap for
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management covering the rapidly
urbanising cluster of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Jatni, and Pipili. The
project will include a scientific assessment of C&D waste generation,
formulation of an integrated waste management strategy, promotion of innovative
technologies, institutional capacity building, and preparation of a Detailed
Project Report (DPR). The framework developed under the initiative is expected
to become a scalable model for replication across other urban centres in
Odisha.
The collaboration
brings together the complementary strengths of the three partner institutions.
IIT Bhubaneswar will provide advanced research, technical expertise, and
technological innovation; Development Alternatives will support implementation
and facilitate the adoption of sustainable construction technologies; while the
Odisha Urban Academy will spearhead capacity building, policy support, and
knowledge dissemination among Urban Local Bodies and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee highlighted the importance of strong institutional partnerships in addressing emerging urban challenges. She observed that integrating sustainable construction practices, scientific waste management, and evidence-based planning into the urban development framework would be critical to building resilient, resource-efficient, and environmentally sustainable cities across Odisha.
The Minister further noted that while the Centre will initially focus on low-carbon construction materials and Construction and Demolition Waste Management, its mandate will gradually expand to include other critical areas such as urban air quality monitoring, solid waste management, water quality assessment, and broader sustainability interventions. Expressing confidence in the initiative, he said the Centre of Excellence would play a pivotal role in driving Odisha's transition towards climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable, and future-ready urban development, while creating replicable models for cities across the State.
