Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is strengthening urban governance through the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (ANKUR), a collaborative platform aimed at connecting Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with experts, knowledge institutions, development organisations and innovation partners.
Launched on May 28, 2025, ANKUR was inspired by the vision of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The platform seeks to help ULBs identify urban challenges, access specialised knowledge and technology, test innovative solutions and scale successful approaches across cities.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, said ANKUR is designed to connect the needs of cities with appropriate knowledge, expertise and solutions.
She said the initiative aims to strengthen ULB capacity and promote innovation so that urban services become simpler, faster and more responsive to citizens.
Unlike a standalone scheme, ANKUR supports the government’s existing urban programmes by bringing knowledge and innovation into their implementation.
The platform brings government agencies, knowledge institutions, technical experts, development organisations and innovation partners together to address specific urban requirements.
Areas covered include municipal finance, land management, environmental engineering, digital systems and other aspects of urban planning and governance.
ANKUR is already supporting interventions in digital governance, environmental management, regulatory reforms, capacity building, sanitation, livelihoods and citizen outreach.
Digital initiatives such as SUJOG are strengthening municipal service delivery across 115 cities. Data-driven interventions are also being used to identify and address local urban challenges.
Under the Dispersed Sources Programme, 2,604 localised pollution-related issues were identified in Bhubaneswar. Of these, 1,225 have been resolved, while the government has set a target of resolving 80% of the identified issues by October 2026.
Capacity building is another major focus of the platform. More than 1,150 government officials have received training through capacity-building initiatives.
Knowledge-led reforms are also supporting the simplification of building construction, land subdivision and land-use regulations. These measures are aimed at facilitating planned development and more efficient utilisation of urban land.
The platform also promotes people-focused urban innovation. Mechanisation, safety equipment and training are being used to improve the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
Through initiatives such as the Lighthouse Programme, youth are being connected with skills and employment opportunities. SAHAJOG and SAHAJOG Plus are helping connect urban families with government schemes and essential services.
ANKUR is also providing a platform to test and scale solutions for emerging urban challenges. These include the reuse of low-value plastic waste, improved Construction & Demolition Waste management, and other resource-efficient practices.
Successful interventions can be adapted and replicated across different ULBs, allowing cities to benefit from solutions tested elsewhere.
The government said ANKUR is helping create an urban innovation ecosystem in which challenges identified by cities can be linked with specialised expertise, converted into practical solutions, tested on the ground and scaled for wider public benefit.
Aligned with the Viksit Odisha @2036 vision, the platform is aimed at strengthening the state’s ability to turn knowledge into practical solutions and improve urban services. The initiative seeks to contribute to cleaner, safer, more resilient, and citizen-centric cities across Odisha.
