Bhubaneswar: A high-level review meeting on Urban Development and Urban Mobility was held on Wednesday at the 3rd Floor Conference Hall of Kharabela Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, chaired by Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing programmes and projects under the Housing and Urban Development Department. Officials focused on expediting implementation, strengthening urban mobility, and ensuring timely utilisation of allocated funds.
Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, senior officers of CRUT, and other officials of the department attended the meeting.
Mahapatra conducted a detailed review of key ongoing projects and directed officials to expedite execution and address bottlenecks. He asked officials to ensure that allocated funds are utilised within stipulated timelines. He emphasised coordinated action, close monitoring, and outcome-oriented implementation so that urban development initiatives deliver timely benefits to citizens.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mahapatra said the government is working to expand affordable housing opportunities for different income groups. He said discussions were held on developing new housing models for Economically Weaker Sections, Low Income Groups, and Middle Income Groups, as well as exploring rental housing solutions.
Referring to his recent visit to Maharashtra to study precast construction technology, Mahapatra cited the “Mission 100” model, which involves constructing 100 houses in 100 days. He said a technical team would be deputed to examine the feasibility of adopting similar technology in Odisha to enable faster construction of quality and affordable housing.
The minister said the government is also focusing on expanding Town Planning Schemes to cover larger urban areas in a systematic manner. He said strengthening urban planning mechanisms would remain a priority to ensure orderly growth of expanding towns.
On urban mobility, Mahapatra highlighted plans to scale up the “Odisha Yatri” initiative across cities in the state. He said the expansion would provide greater convenience for commuters while ensuring sustainable livelihood opportunities for drivers associated with the platform.
The meeting also reviewed monsoon-related damage to urban roads and drainage infrastructure. Mahapatra directed officials to fast-track repair and restoration work on roads affected by heavy rainfall. He also stressed the need to expedite Storm Water Drainage Master Plans across Urban Local Bodies to reduce waterlogging during heavy rainfall.
The minister further emphasised institutional strengthening of Development Authorities across districts, directing that they be equipped to improve town planning and coordinated urban development.
Mahapatra directed all officials to maintain close coordination and strengthen field-level monitoring to ensure projects are completed within defined timelines. He said the government’s urban development efforts must focus on creating well-planned, resilient, and citizen-centric cities.
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