Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department of the government of Odisha has started the process to frame a comprehensive City Gas Distribution (CGD) policy. The move aims to strengthen urban utility infrastructure and promote clean energy adoption across the state.
A high-level consultative meeting took place at Kharabela Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD, and Chairperson of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation. The department held the meeting in collaboration with GAIL (India) Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
Officials discussed a strategic roadmap to expand Piped Natural Gas (PNG) networks across urban Odisha. They focused on building a citizen-centric policy aligned with the state’s long-term development goals.
Usha Padhee stressed the need for a practical and forward-looking policy framework to support the rapid expansion of city gas networks. She said the proposed policy would improve access to clean, efficient, and reliable energy. She added that it would also support sustainable urban development and better service delivery. She further said the state aims to design a policy that simplifies procedures and accelerates infrastructure rollout. She noted that the initiative would improve the ease of living in urban areas.
The meeting focused on key policy components such as streamlining permissions, rationalising licence fees, and introducing a single-window clearance system. Officials also discussed deemed approval mechanisms, institutional coordination, and service delivery systems to ensure smooth implementation. The department is working closely with energy sector stakeholders, including Indian Oil Corporation Limited and GAIL, to leverage technical expertise and ensure efficient execution of projects. The proposed CGD policy is expected to speed up PNG infrastructure rollout, improve coordination among stakeholders, and position Odisha as a leader in clean urban energy adoption.
Senior officials from the H&UD Department, IDCO, and municipal bodies attended the meeting. These included Arindam Dakua, Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Nihar Ranjan Behera, Ratnakar Sahu, and Suvendu Kumar Sahoo, along with representatives from IOCL and GAIL. Officials said the inputs shared during the meeting would help shape a practical and forward-looking policy aligned with Odisha’s vision for a greener and more efficient urban future.
