THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 11, 2026

 “Urban development today must be citizen-centric, technology-driven and sustainable, with a strong focus on quality service delivery,” said Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, while showcasing the State’s transformative urban governance initiatives to a visiting delegation from Rajasthan.

A nine-member team from Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (RUIDP), Jaipur, visited Bhubaneswar and Puri under an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported exposure programme to study Odisha’s pioneering achievements in urban infrastructure, water supply, sanitation and governance reforms.

During an interaction at the Odisha Urban Academy, Padhee presented a comprehensive overview of Odisha’s urban transformation journey, highlighting a series of innovative initiatives that have positioned the State among India’s leading performers in urban reforms. She underscored the success of Odisha’s flagship 24x7 Drink from Tap Mission, which has emerged as a national benchmark for ensuring safe, equitable and uninterrupted access to quality drinking water for urban residents.

Padhee also outlined Odisha’s advancements in sanitation and waste management, integrated urban planning, public transport modernisation, digital governance and sustainable infrastructure development. She emphasised that the State’s urban development strategy is anchored in improving citizens’ quality of life through efficient service delivery, data-driven decision-making and robust institutional mechanisms.

The RUIDP delegation undertook extensive field visits to major urban infrastructure projects in Bhubaneswar and Puri and held discussions with officials of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to gain first-hand insights into Odisha’s governance framework, sanitation systems and citizen-focused urban initiatives.

The visiting team, comprising senior engineers and project officials from various regions of Rajasthan, expressed appreciation for Odisha’s remarkable progress in urban service delivery and infrastructure management. Members of the delegation showed keen interest in adopting several of Odisha’s successful models, particularly in water supply management, urban governance and sanitation services, for implementation in Rajasthan.

The exposure visit provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and cross-learning between the two states, while reinforcing the growing recognition of Odisha’s urban development model at the national level. Officials noted that such collaborations play an important role in accelerating innovation, strengthening institutional capacities and promoting best practices across India’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.

Additional Secretary-cum-Director of Odisha Urban Academy, Suvendu Kumar Sahu, along with senior officials of the Housing & Urban Development Department and the Odisha Urban Academy, were present during the interaction.