Bhubaneswar: Strategic urban land management is critical to achieving the vision of a Viksit Odisha, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Usha Padhee said at a high-level session held here on Wednesday.
The session, organised by the Housing and Urban Development Department at Kharavela Bhawan, focused on strengthening policy, administrative, and legal frameworks governing urban land as Odisha moves towards rapid urbanisation.
Setting the tone, Padhee emphasised that informed and strategic utilisation of land is essential for building sustainable and future-ready cities. She highlighted the importance of understanding land categories, regulatory systems, and innovative tools such as land value capture to maximise the potential of urban land resources.
The session featured a detailed presentation by retired IAS officer Hari Ballav Mishra, who drew on his administrative experience to explain evolving legal and policy dimensions of land management. He stressed the need for clarity in legacy land classifications and adaptive policy frameworks to address emerging urban challenges.
Discussions covered key land categories in Odisha, including Nazul, Khasmahal, Government Khas Possession, and leasehold lands, with a focus on their optimal utilisation for planned urban growth.
The deliberations also highlighted land value capture as a sustainable financing mechanism for urban infrastructure and improved service delivery.
Senior officials, including Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, Additional Secretaries, district Collectors, and Municipal Commissioners, participated in the session both physically and virtually.
The department reiterated its commitment to capacity building and knowledge-sharing to promote transparent and efficient urban land management across the state.
