HUD Dept Holds 35th Dashboard Review Meeting, Emphasises Citizen-Centric Urban Governance

Bhubaneswar: The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department of Odisha held its 35th Dashboard Review Meeting on Monday, with a renewed focus on citizen-centric urban development and timely execution of key infrastructure projects. The review meeting was chaired by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary to the Government of Odisha, who called for enhanced coordination, accountability, and innovation in service delivery.

A central focus of the meeting was the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), which is emerging as a critical tool for real-time urban monitoring, grievance redressal, and cross-departmental coordination. Padhee stressed the importance of further streamlining the functioning of ICCC to improve its responsiveness and ensure that urban services remain accessible, efficient, and inclusive.

The review covered progress under several core urban schemes, with particular emphasis on timely budget utilisation. Departmental officials were urged to accelerate fund deployment and implementation across sectors such as sanitation, water supply, solid waste management, and digital service delivery platforms.

Drawing from recent field visits, officials presented insights into challenges and emerging needs across various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). These discussions helped inform strategies to bridge service delivery gaps and improve outcomes on the ground.

Encouraging ULB officials to adopt best practices and foster stronger inter-agency collaboration, Padhee emphasized that accountability and innovation are essential to achieving the state’s urban development goals. She reiterated the Department’s commitment to building empowered and resilient cities that are aligned with the vision of “Viksit Odisha @2036.”