Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7 (UDN): The Odisha government is scaling up its urban governance reforms through the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (ANKUR), a collaborative platform designed to help Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) improve public services by connecting them with experts, technology and innovative solutions.
The platform, launched on May 28, 2025, is being positioned as a knowledge-driven support system that enables cities to tackle local challenges through technical expertise, institutional capacity-building and data-based decision-making.
Platform to Support 115 Urban Bodies
Unlike a standalone government scheme, ANKUR works alongside existing urban programmes by helping ULBs identify problems, access specialised knowledge, test innovative solutions and replicate successful models across cities.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee said the initiative aims to make urban services more efficient and citizen-centric.
“ANKUR is about connecting the needs of our cities with the right knowledge, expertise and solutions. By strengthening the capacity of Urban Local Bodies and enabling innovation, our objective is to make urban services simpler, faster and more responsive to citizens,” she said.
The platform brings together government departments, academic institutions, technical experts, development organisations and innovation partners to support cities in areas such as municipal finance, land management, environmental engineering and digital governance.
Digital Governance and Pollution Control
One of ANKUR’s major focus areas is digital governance. Through initiatives such as SUJOG, municipal services are being strengthened across 115 urban local bodies.
The platform is also supporting environmental management through data-driven interventions. Under the Dispersed Sources Programme, authorities identified 2,604 localised pollution-related issues in Bhubaneswar, of which 1,225 have already been resolved. The government has set a target of addressing 80 per cent of the identified issues by October 2026.
Capacity Building and Urban Reforms
The initiative has also focused on strengthening institutional capacity within ULBs.
More than 1,150 government officials have undergone training through ANKUR’s capacity-building programmes, while reforms are helping simplify regulations related to building construction, land subdivision and land-use planning.
The government said these measures are intended to promote planned urban development and improve administrative efficiency.
Focus on Sanitation and Livelihoods
ANKUR is also supporting the mechanisation of sanitation work, provision of safety equipment and worker training to improve the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
Meanwhile, programmes such as the Lighthouse Programme are connecting young people with skill development and employment opportunities, while SAHAJOG and SAHAJOG Plus are helping urban households access government welfare schemes and essential public services.
The platform is also testing innovative solutions for the reuse of low-value plastic waste and better management of construction and demolition waste, with successful models expected to be replicated across other cities.
Aligned with the Viksit Odisha @2036 vision, the government says ANKUR is laying the foundation for cleaner, smarter and more resilient cities by transforming knowledge into practical solutions for urban governance.
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