BSCL Charts Future Course for Smart City Assets Post-Mission Closure

Bhubaneswar: With the formal closure of the Smart Cities Mission on March 31, 2025, the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) is now focusing on the long-term sustainability and management of the extensive infrastructure developed under the initiative. In this context, the 3rd meeting of the Empowered Committee on Asset Management of BSCL was held today at Kharavela Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for managing and leveraging the wide array of urban assets created in Bhubaneswar during the Smart Cities Mission. These include streetscapes, multi-level car parking structures (MLCPs), public plazas, digital kiosks, and other modern urban infrastructure that have played a pivotal role in transforming the city’s landscape.

Committee members held detailed discussions on ensuring financial viability and operational efficiency of these assets. It was agreed that structured asset management strategies are essential to maintain the momentum of urban innovation and to protect the significant investments already made. Notably, BSCL was recognized as a potential model for other cities in Odisha—a lighthouse guiding similar urban transformation initiatives across the state.

To ensure steady revenue streams, the committee examined proposals such as sharing user fees from MLCPs and public spaces, granting advertising rights within MLCPs, and repurposing unused parking floors into commercial spaces. The discussion also explored sustainable financing mechanisms to support recurring operational expenses, including energy charges and Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs), especially as most projects have now exited their defect liability periods.

The need to modernize and maintain digital kiosks for public use was also addressed, with emphasis on keeping them user-friendly and technologically relevant. Additionally, the rationalization of manpower and administrative restructuring within BSCL was proposed to align with its evolving role in the post-mission era.

A significant concern raised during the meeting was BSCL’s current financial burden in bearing all recurring expenses without external support. With maintenance and electricity costs mounting, the company is in urgent need of a sustainable asset management plan backed by strong institutional coordination and financial backing.

The meeting was attended by several senior officials including Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; S. Debadutta Singh, Commissioner of Police, Cuttack-Bhubaneswar; Manoj V. Nayar, Director, Nandankanan Zoological Park; Dharanidhar Nanda, Special Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Gurucharan Das, Managing Director, WATCO; Purandar Nanda, General Manager, BSCL; representatives from the Tourism Department, and others.

The Empowered Committee emphasized the need for innovative financing models, inter-agency coordination, and efficient governance to ensure that the assets created under the Smart Cities Mission continue to deliver value to the citizens. The outcomes of the meeting will form the basis of a comprehensive asset management roadmap for BSCL, guiding the city’s next phase of sustainable urban development.