Odisha Launches ‘First Tuesday Review Drive’ to Fast-Track Urban Development Initiatives

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to infuse speed, structure, and accountability into urban governance, Odisha’s Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra today launched a new institutional review mechanism — the ‘First Tuesday Review Drive’ — during a high-level meeting held at Kharavela Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

Starting this month, the first Tuesday of every month will now be dedicated to comprehensive departmental reviews, aimed at real-time monitoring and accelerated implementation of all flagship urban development schemes in the state. The move marks a strategic shift towards performance-based governance under the H&UD Department.

At the inaugural session of the review drive, the Minister conducted a detailed assessment of the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikas Yojana, evaluating progress across key focus areas such as urban sanitation, infrastructure improvement, implementation of the GARIMA scheme for the welfare of sanitation workers, and budget utilisation.

The Drink-from-Tap Mission received special attention during the session, with the Minister urging officials to ensure 24×7 access to clean and safe drinking water across all 115 urban local bodies (ULBs). He stressed the urgency of the mission’s timely execution, terming it a cornerstone of inclusive urban transformation.

Development of public amenities including parks, libraries, and Kalyan Mandaps also came under review. In a significant directive, the Minister instructed that all urban parks be made accessible to persons with disabilities, underlining the department’s commitment to inclusive design.

Other critical issues discussed included enhancing revenue generation by ULBs, filling vacant departmental posts, and strengthening capacity building to improve urban governance and public service delivery.

The review meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Usha Padhee, Director of Municipal Administration, Special Secretary, Additional Secretaries, and senior officials from across the department.

The new review framework aims to translate Odisha’s urban policy vision into on-ground progress by fostering regular oversight and ensuring alignment between planning and execution.

“The First Tuesday Review Drive is more than a governance reform — it is our commitment to move from policy to performance, and from intention to impact,” said Minister Dr. Mahapatra following the meeting.