Bhubaneswar: In a major push towards sustainable urban development, the Odisha government on Saturday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre of Excellence on Low Carbon Construction Materials and Sustainable Development.
The initiative aims to promote research, innovation, capacity building and the adoption of sustainable construction practices to support climate-resilient urban infrastructure and cleaner, greener cities across the state.
The MoU was signed between the Odisha Urban Academy (OUA), IIT Bhubaneswar, and Development Alternatives in the presence of Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee.
The agreement was signed by OUA Director Suvendu Sahu, Professor Dinakar Pasla of IIT Bhubaneswar’s School of Infrastructure, and Development Alternatives CEO Shashtant Patara. The programme began with a welcome address by Binaya Kumar Dash, Special Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department and Mission Director, SBM (Urban).
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mahapatra said the initiative aligns with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s vision of transforming Odisha into a Viksit Odisha by 2036, while contributing to the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
He further said urban development should focus not only on creating physical infrastructure but also on improving quality of life through environmentally responsible planning, quality public infrastructure, and efficient civic services.
The minister described the Centre of Excellence as a knowledge and innovation hub that will strengthen sustainable urban development in Odisha through research, policy support and technological innovation.
As its first major initiative, the Centre will prepare a comprehensive roadmap for Construction and Demolition Waste Management covering the rapidly urbanising region of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Jatni and Pipili.
The project will assess construction and demolition waste generation, develop an integrated waste management strategy, promote innovative recycling technologies, strengthen institutional capacity and prepare a Detailed Project Report. The framework is expected to become a scalable model for implementation in other urban centres across Odisha.
Under the partnership, IIT Bhubaneswar will provide research and technical expertise, while Development Alternatives will support implementation and promote sustainable construction technologies. The OUA will lead capacity building, policy support and knowledge dissemination among Urban Local Bodies and other stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Padhee highlighted the need for strong institutional collaboration to tackle emerging urban challenges. She said integrating sustainable construction practices, scientific waste management and evidence-based planning into the urban development framework would be crucial for building resilient, resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable cities.
Dr. Mahapatra further said the Centre’s mandate would gradually expand beyond low-carbon construction materials and C&D waste management to include urban air quality monitoring, solid waste management, water quality assessment and other sustainability-related interventions.
He expressed confidence that the Centre of Excellence would play a key role in supporting Odisha’s transition towards climate-resilient and future-ready urban development while creating replicable models for cities across the state.
