Odisha Clears 94% Urban Civic Service Applications Within Deadline Under ORTPS Framework

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Department has achieved nearly 94 per cent on-time disposal of applications under the Odisha Right to Public Services (ORTPS) framework, reflecting significant progress in digitisation and citizen-centric delivery of urban civic services across the state.

The performance was reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, where officials assessed the implementation status and operational efficiency of various online civic service platforms.

Officials informed that the department has expanded digital delivery of public services under the motto “Lokaseba Adhikar – Subidhare Sarakari Seba”, aimed at ensuring easier and time-bound access to government services for citizens.

At present, 21 of the 30 notified ORTPS services are fully operational online across Odisha through platforms such as SUJOG, SWACHHATA and dedicated grievance management systems. Seven additional services are available online within the jurisdictions of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Bhubaneswar Development Authority, while only two services continue to function offline.

The department is also conducting User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for seven dashboard services being developed through the Centre for Modernizing Government Initiative to further strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

According to official data, between April 1, 2024 and April 27, 2026, a total of 6,59,102 applications were received through the department’s digital platforms. Of these, 6,05,960 applications were disposed of within the prescribed Service Level Agreement (SLA) timelines, while 10,916 applications are still pending but remain within the permissible time limits.

Among the various services, Trade Licenses recorded a 100 per cent on-time disposal rate with all 57,715 applications cleared without any pendency. Water and Sewerage Connections, which received the highest number of applications at 5,02,555, achieved a 96 per cent on-time disposal rate.

Sewerage Connections and Property Tax New Assessments registered 98 per cent and 96 per cent compliance respectively within the stipulated timelines. Property Tax Ownership Transfers achieved a 76 per cent disposal rate within the deadline, while Marriage Certificate approvals recorded 53 per cent disposal within timelines and 46 per cent beyond the prescribed period.

The review also focused on the performance of the Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPAS), under which several categories continue to face delays despite digitisation of technical scrutiny processes.

Officials informed that Building Plan Approvals for low-risk buildings recorded a 41 per cent on-time approval rate from 15,984 applications, while approvals for non-low-risk buildings stood at 31 per cent out of 3,571 applications. Addition and alteration permissions recorded 40 per cent and 37 per cent timeline adherence for low-risk and other categories respectively, while Occupancy Certificates registered a 23 per cent on-time approval rate.

During the meeting, Minister Mahapatra stressed that citizen convenience must remain the top priority and directed all Urban Local Bodies, Development Authorities and field-level officers to remove bottlenecks causing delays and ensure strict adherence to notified timelines.

Officials informed that 23,740 applications have so far been disposed of beyond the prescribed timelines, while 16,705 applications remain overdue. A large share of the pending cases relates to Water and Sewerage Connections with 9,082 delayed applications, followed by 2,786 pending low-risk building plan approvals and 1,261 pending cases under other building categories.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee said the department is continuously using digital governance tools to simplify public services, improve transparency and strengthen accountability.

She said the focus is not only on faster disposal of applications but also on building a responsive, technology-driven and citizen-first urban governance system across Odisha.

The department reiterated its commitment to further strengthening civic technology platforms and improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in urban governance across the state.