Odisha Urban Conclave 2025 Concludes with Vision for Vibrant, Sustainable Cities

Bhubaneswar: The two-day Odisha Urban Conclave 2025, organised by the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, concluded today with a strong resolve to build vibrant, sustainable, and people-centric cities across the State.

Delivering the valedictory address, Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, H&UD Department, outlined Odisha’s forward-looking vision to position Rourkela and Bhubaneswar among the top 100 global cities. She underscored the importance of private investment, leveraging the Smart City experience, and optimising both human and technological resources to achieve the State’s long-term goals under Viksit Odisha – 2036 and Viksit Bharat – 2047.

 Padhee called upon officials and urban functionaries to foster teamwork, coordination, and efficiency in implementing urban projects, ensuring citizen-focused service delivery and impactful outcomes across all departmental verticals.

Highlighting the government’s priority areas, Arindam Dakua, Director, Municipal Administration, spoke about flagship initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Saharika Basera Yojana (MSBY), AMRUT, Pothole-Free Urban Odisha, Pedestrian Path Development, and Strengthening Own Source Revenue (OSR). These programmes, he said, are designed to enhance urban infrastructure, improve mobility, and bolster the financial sustainability of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

The Conclave featured thematic sessions on Urban Housing, Water Supply, Sanitation, and Infrastructure Development, where departments and ULBs shared best practices from initiatives like PMAY-U, SUJAL Mission, SBM(U), and GARIMA. Outstanding ULBs and officers were felicitated for their innovative approaches to creating cleaner, greener, and more inclusive cities.

The two-day event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders — government officials, planners, engineers, and civic representatives — to work collectively towards a Vibrant Urban Odisha, driven by innovation, citizen participation, and sustainable urban governance.