Bhubaneswar: With rising vehicle numbers putting increasing pressure on limited road space in urban areas, the Odisha Government is working on a new parking framework that seeks to regulate parking, improve traffic management and give greater priority to pedestrians and public transport.
The proposed measures under the Draft Odisha Parking Policy 2026 came up for discussion at a high-level review meeting chaired by Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra at Kharavel Bhawan on Saturday.
The meeting reviewed the progress of key departmental initiatives, including the proposed parking policy, Urban Mobility Plan, Urban Challenge Fund and the functioning of District Urban Development Agencies (DUDA).
The draft policy aims to make parking management an integral part of sustainable urban mobility through planned, regulated and technology-enabled systems. It proposes prioritising pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities, emergency services and public transport while allocating urban road space.
Under the proposed framework, cities will prepare Parking Master Plans, supported by neighbourhood-specific Parking Area Management Plans, to ensure parking arrangements suited to local requirements.
The policy also envisages demand-based parking charges, different rates for on-street and off-street parking, digital parking permits, real-time parking information, electronic payments and technology-based monitoring. It encourages shared use of existing parking facilities, EV-ready parking spaces and integration of parking infrastructure with public transport and non-motorised transport systems.
Special parking and mobility management measures have also been proposed for commercial areas, hospitals, educational institutions, residential neighbourhoods, industrial zones and transport hubs.
Effective implementation will require coordination among Urban Local Bodies, Traffic Police and other concerned agencies, the meeting was informed.
Urban mobility and infrastructure planning
The discussions on the Urban Mobility Plan and Urban Challenge Fund focused on strengthening planning and implementation mechanisms for future urban infrastructure and mobility projects.
The Minister also reviewed the functioning of DUDA offices, with emphasis on improving their institutional effectiveness and ensuring the timely and efficient implementation of urban development programmes.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, Special Secretary Gangadhar Naik and Binaya Kumar Dash, along with Additional Secretaries and other senior officials, attended the meeting.
The review aimed to assess ongoing initiatives, identify emerging priorities and improve coordination among different wings of the department to accelerate urban development across Odisha.
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