Odisha Focuses on Citizen-Centric Urban Growth: Minister Mohapatra Reviews H&UD Department

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to accelerate urban transformation across Odisha, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra on Monday chaired a detailed review meeting at Kharavela Bhawan, directing officials to prioritize timely implementation of projects and ensure visible improvements in civic life.

The Minister made it clear that accountability and efficiency must remain central to the Department’s functioning. He instructed that every Urban Local Body (ULB) must be supported with at least one Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer for effective project supervision and uninterrupted service delivery. “Our cities must be planned, sustainable, and citizen-friendly. Every initiative should directly contribute to the welfare of people,” he asserted.

Outlining his vision, Dr. Mohapatra emphasized three key goals: planned city growth to manage rapid urbanization, greener and cleaner public spaces to support healthier lifestyles, and robust civic service delivery to raise the overall quality of life. He also called on officials to adopt innovative approaches and strengthen coordination with ULBs to ensure smooth execution of development works.

The meeting witnessed active participation from senior officials, including Special Secretary Rajesh Pravakar Patil, Special Secretary Gangadhar Naik, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, Additional Secretaries, and officers from BDA and BMC. The review was conducted at the 3rd Floor Conference Hall of Kharavela Bhawan.