Bhubaneswar: With Odisha poised for rapid urban expansion over the next two decades, urban planning professionals have called for urgent institutional reforms and large-scale recruitment of qualified town planners to ensure sustainable and well-managed urban growth across the state.
The Odisha Chapter of the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) presented a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening the state’s urban planning framework during a high-level consultation chaired by Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra at Kharabela Bhawan.
During the meeting, ITPI highlighted that Odisha’s urban population is expected to grow from around 17 per cent in 2025 to nearly 60 per cent by 2047. As cities emerge as major drivers of economic growth, the institution stressed the need for professional and scientific planning systems to guide future development.
According to the planners, Odisha currently faces a severe shortage of qualified town planning professionals. While NITI Aayog norms indicate that the state requires nearly 470 town planners to effectively manage urbanisation, only around 20 planners are presently working across various urban development agencies and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The consultation noted that the situation is particularly challenging in the Directorate of Town Planning, where sanctioned planning posts remain vacant. Several development authorities are functioning without dedicated town planners, while many ULBs continue to depend on temporary contractual arrangements for statutory planning and building approval functions.
ITPI emphasised that modern urban planning extends beyond land-use management and encompasses infrastructure development, housing, transportation, environmental sustainability, economic growth and social inclusion. Professional planners play a critical role in preparing master plans, implementing town planning schemes, facilitating affordable housing, redeveloping older urban areas and improving ease of doing business through efficient approval systems.
To bridge the existing gap, the institution proposed the deployment of approximately 470 town planners across key urban institutions, including the Directorate of Town Planning, Development Authorities, Directorate of Municipal Administration, SUDA, DUDA and other agencies involved in urban infrastructure and regional development.
The meeting also highlighted the growing availability of planning professionals within the state. Since the introduction of Bachelor of Planning and Master of Planning programmes at Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR) in 2015, a significant number of trained graduates have entered the field. Additional expertise is also available from premier institutions such as the IITs, Schools of Planning and Architecture and CEPT University.
To utilise this talent pool and support major urban development initiatives, including the Samrudha Sahar programme, ITPI recommended immediate recruitment of Assistant Town Planners across urban institutions. It also proposed the creation of a dedicated Odisha Town Planning Service (OTPS) cadre and the formulation of uniform recruitment and service rules for planning professionals.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra appreciated the recommendations and underscored the importance of strengthening planning capacity to support Odisha’s urban transformation. He observed that robust planning mechanisms would be essential for building liveable, sustainable and globally competitive cities in the coming decades.
The consultation concluded with a consensus on enhancing collaboration among government agencies, planning professionals and academic institutions to create a future-ready urban planning ecosystem capable of supporting Odisha’s long-term development aspirations.
Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee, Director of Town Planning Satrughna Kar, representatives of ITPI Odisha Chapter and officers of the Housing and Urban Development Department, participated in the discussions.
