THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 2, 2026

 

In a significant boost to Odisha’s urban transformation agenda, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department has recorded its highest development expenditure in the past five years, reaching ₹8,575.61 crore as of March 31, 2026. The achievement marks a steady rise from ₹6,996.92 crore in 2022–23, reflecting the state’s sustained focus on strengthening urban infrastructure and improving civic services.

The milestone underscores the coordinated efforts of “Team Urban” under the guidance of H&UD Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, whose emphasis on outcome-driven governance and citizen-centric services has shaped the Department’s strategic direction. The administrative leadership of Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee has further ensured robust monitoring, timely execution, and effective translation of policy priorities into measurable outcomes.

The Department has also registered notable improvement in financial efficiency, achieving an overall utilisation rate of 86.50%, a substantial increase from 73.47 per cent in the previous fiscal year. The enhanced utilisation signals a clear shift towards ensuring that budgetary allocations are converted into tangible development outcomes across urban centres.

A major contributor to this performance has been the impressive progress under State Sector Schemes. Expenditure under these schemes rose sharply from ₹2,676.15 crore in 2022–23 to ₹4,285.45 crore in 2025–26, supported by a robust utilisation rate of 98.18%, compared to 82.92 per cent in the preceding year. The growth reflects strengthened internal project execution capacity, reinforced through continuous review and strategic oversight at the highest administrative levels.

The Department has maintained consistently high performance in fund devolution to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with State Finance Commission transfers achieving an exceptional utilisation rate of 99.70 per cent for the fourth consecutive year, amounting to ₹1,489.51 crore. In Centrally Sponsored Schemes, expenditure increased significantly to ₹1,144 crore from ₹595.95 crore in the previous fiscal, indicating renewed momentum in leveraging central partnerships to accelerate urban development initiatives.

Looking ahead, the H&UD Department is set to enter an even more ambitious phase, with a Budget Estimate of ₹10,726.87 crore for 2026–27 — the highest allocation in the past five years. The forward-looking outlay signals a clear commitment to expanding urban infrastructure, enhancing service delivery, and supporting sustainable urbanisation across the state.

Combining prudent financial management with high-impact developmental investments, and guided by the steady leadership of Usha Padhee, the Department continues to build a resilient and future-ready urban ecosystem aligned with the broader vision of a Viksit Odisha.