THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 15, 2026

In a major push towards strengthening urban governance through digital transformation, the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) of Odisha has successfully implemented the Odisha Secretariat Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) across all 115 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state. This landmark reform marks a decisive shift from fragmented, paper-based processes to a unified, efficient, and transparent digital workflow ecosystem.

Spanning 5 Municipal Corporations, 48 Municipalities, and 62 Notified Area Councils (NACs), the OSWAS platform — developed in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services and implemented with technical support from the Odisha Computer Application Centre — enables end-to-end digital management of official files. It facilitates real-time tracking, role-based routing, and time-bound decision-making, significantly enhancing efficiency and accountability across ULBs.

State Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative, stating, “OSWAS is a cornerstone reform in our mission to modernise urban governance. By embedding transparency, speed, and accountability into administrative processes, we are empowering Urban Local Bodies to deliver faster and better services to citizens. This initiative reflects our commitment to building efficient, technology-driven institutions for a Viksit Odisha.”

Prior to the rollout, municipal administration in Odisha grappled with several operational challenges, including manual file movement, non-standardised workflows, limited monitoring, and heavy reliance on physical documentation — often leading to delays and inconsistencies. OSWAS addresses these issues through standardised processes, digital audit trails, and automated escalation mechanisms, thereby instilling greater discipline and transparency in governance.

The implementation followed a structured, phased approach, beginning with workflow diagnostics and process mapping across ULBs. This was followed by business process re-engineering, secure platform configuration, and extensive capacity-building programmes. Pilot testing ensured system robustness before statewide rollout, while continuous monitoring and feedback loops have enabled ongoing optimisation.

Emphasising the reform’s administrative significance, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UDD, Usha Padhee, said, “The statewide rollout of OSWAS represents a systemic transformation in municipal governance. It is not merely a technological upgrade, but a comprehensive process reform that standardises workflows, strengthens accountability, and enables real-time monitoring. This will greatly enhance our ability to make data-driven decisions and improve service delivery outcomes.”

A key feature of OSWAS is its real-time dashboards that track file movement and pendency, providing actionable insights to officials at both ULB and state levels. The platform has reduced administrative delays, strengthened supervisory oversight, and improved inter-departmental coordination.

The reform has delivered several tangible outcomes, including faster file disposal, enhanced transparency through traceable digital records, improved accessibility of documents, and the creation of a scalable digital governance framework. By enabling data-driven decision-making, OSWAS is helping urban local bodies become more responsive, efficient, and citizen-centric.

With OSWAS now fully operational across all ULBs, Odisha has set a new benchmark in leveraging technology for governance reform. The initiative is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the vision of Viksit Odisha by strengthening urban administration, improving service delivery, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.