BHUBANESWAR: The state govt has intensified its focus on urban development as part of its vision for a developed Odisha by 2036. A high-level meeting chaired by housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra was held on Thursday at Kharavela Bhavan to discuss various urban development initiatives.
The meeting, attended by housing and urban development department secretary Usha Padhee, municipal director Arindam Dakua and officials from various development authorities, primarily focused on implementing the town planning scheme across major cities, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Puri-Konark.
Key decisions taken during the meeting include the utilisation of govt lands under PPP mode to boost revenue, addressing vacant town planner positions, revising vision documents based on practical requirements and streamlining construction processes in old city areas.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mahapatra said, “Urban development is crucial to achieving the state’s 2036 development goals. We are implementing new laws to facilitate urbanisation and simplify construction processes, particularly in old city areas.”
The authorities were directed to expedite the ongoing town planning scheme implementation, with special instructions to development authorities in Cuttack, Berhampur and Puri-Konark to fast-track their initial tasks.
The govt is also working on creating a simplified process for both builders and ordinary citizens to construct homes within defined timeframes, addressing long-standing concerns about construction delays in urban areas.
