THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 19, 2026
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna
Chandra Mahapatra on Wednesday directed officials to accelerate execution of
urban development projects, ensure timely utilisation of allocated funds and
strengthen planning, mobility and drainage infrastructure across the state,
with a clear focus on delivering visible and timely benefits to citizens.
At a high-level review meeting on Urban Development and Urban
Mobility held at Kharabela Bhawan here, Dr. Mahapatra undertook a detailed
assessment of various ongoing programmes and projects of the Housing and Urban
Development Department and called for coordinated action, close monitoring and
outcome-oriented implementation.
Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD Department, Usha Padhee;
DMA, Arindam Dakua; all Special Secretary and Additional Secretary of the
H&UD Department, senior officers of CRUT and other concerned officials
attended the meeting.
Dr. Mahapatra directed officials to identify and remove
bottlenecks, expedite project execution and ensure that funds allocated for
various schemes are utilised within the stipulated timelines.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr. Mahapatra said
that the Government is working to expand affordable housing opportunities for
different income groups. Discussions were held on developing new housing models
for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG) and Middle
Income Groups (MIG), besides exploring rental housing solutions to meet the
changing needs of urban residents.
Referring to his recent visit to Maharashtra to study precast
construction technology and initiatives such as the “Mission 100” model for
constructing 100 houses in 100 days, the Minister said that a technical team
would be deputed to examine the feasibility of adopting such technology in
Odisha.
The initiative seeks to explore faster construction of
quality and affordable housing while maintaining prescribed technical and
construction standards.
The Minister also said the Government is focusing on
expanding Town Planning Schemes to cover larger urban areas in a planned and
systematic manner. Strengthening urban planning mechanisms and ensuring orderly
growth of expanding towns, he said, would remain an important priority.
On urban mobility, Dr. Mahapatra highlighted the need to
scale up the “Odisha Yatri” initiative across cities of the State. The
expansion is aimed at providing greater convenience and reliable mobility
options to commuters while ensuring sustainable livelihood opportunities and
direct benefits for drivers associated with the platform.
The meeting also reviewed monsoon-related damage to urban
roads and drainage infrastructure. Dr. Mahapatra directed officials to
fast-track repair and restoration of roads affected by heavy rainfall and
ensure timely completion of essential works.
He further stressed the need to expedite preparation and
implementation of Storm Water Drainage Master Plans across Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs) to strengthen urban resilience and minimise waterlogging during periods
of heavy rainfall.
The Minister also laid emphasis on strengthening Development
Authorities across districts, directing that these institutions be equipped
with adequate capacity to undertake effective town planning, facilitate planned
urban expansion and ensure coordinated urban development.
Dr. Mahapatra directed all concerned officials to maintain close coordination and strengthen field-level monitoring to ensure that projects are completed within defined timelines.
He reiterated that the Government’s urban development efforts must remain focused on creating well-planned, resilient and citizen-centric cities while delivering visible improvements in the quality of urban life.
