Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s innovative urban governance and water management initiatives have drawn national attention, with a high-level delegation from Rajasthan visiting Bhubaneswar and Puri to study the state’s successful models in urban infrastructure, sanitation and public service delivery.
The nine-member delegation from the Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (RUIDP), Jaipur, undertook the exposure visit under an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported programme aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange and cross-learning among states.
During their visit, the team inspected several key urban infrastructure projects and interacted with officials of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to understand Odisha’s approach to urban governance, sanitation management, citizen services and municipal administration.
A key highlight of the programme was an interaction session at the Odisha Urban Academy, where Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, presented Odisha’s urban transformation journey and shared insights into several flagship initiatives that have earned national recognition.
Addressing the delegation, Padhee outlined the state’s efforts in strengthening urban infrastructure through integrated planning, technology-driven governance and sustainable development practices. She highlighted Odisha’s 24×7 Drink from Tap Mission, which has emerged as a benchmark for urban water supply management by ensuring safe and uninterrupted drinking water to residents.
She also discussed the state’s achievements in sanitation and waste management, public transport modernisation, digital governance systems and environmentally sustainable urban infrastructure projects.
The visiting officials expressed appreciation for Odisha’s progress in urban service delivery and showed particular interest in learning from the state’s water supply and sanitation models. They indicated that several of the practices observed during the visit could be adapted and implemented in Rajasthan.
Officials said the exposure visit provided an important platform for sharing experiences, exchanging ideas and strengthening cooperation between states in the field of urban development and municipal governance.
The delegation comprised senior engineers and project officials from RUIDP, representing various project management and implementation units across Rajasthan.
Additional Secretary-cum-Director of Odisha Urban Academy, Suvendu Kumar Sahu, along with other senior officials of the Housing and Urban Development Department and the academy, participated in the interaction and discussions.
The visit is expected to further enhance collaboration between Odisha and Rajasthan while promoting the adoption of innovative and sustainable urban development practices across states.
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