Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: The Odisha government has reiterated its focus on building cleaner, safer and better-planned cities while improving housing, basic services and welfare support for sanitation workers and their families.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the government is working to improve urban infrastructure and strengthen civic services across the state. He was speaking at the Odisha Urban Conclave-2026 held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
The conclave brought together senior officials to discuss urban planning, infrastructure development, financial management and ways to improve the delivery of public services in cities and towns.
A key focus was on addressing waterlogging and urban flooding. The government is examining improvements to drainage systems and greater reuse of treated water to help manage water resources more effectively.
The state is also accelerating housing projects for poor and landless families under the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikash Yojana and PMAY 2.0. Efforts are also underway to speed up town planning schemes and expand access to safe drinking water.
Officials discussed measures to strengthen municipal finances, increase revenue, improve spending efficiency and address the performance of urban local bodies that are facing difficulties.
The conclave also reviewed plans for pedestrian-friendly roads, expansion of Ama Bus services, restoration of urban water bodies and infrastructure development under AMRUT 2.0.
Urban flood management was another important area of discussion, along with preparation of project estimates and detailed project reports for infrastructure projects.
The government also reviewed welfare programmes for vulnerable sections of the urban population, including PM SVANidhi, shelters for the homeless, Sahayata, Sahyog and Aahaar.
Sanitation and used-water management received particular attention, with urban local bodies encouraged to share successful practices and adopt solutions that can improve cleanliness and public health.
The state government is also engaging directly with underperforming urban local bodies to identify their specific problems and work towards practical solutions.
The conclave highlighted Odisha’s broader effort to make urban development more organised and people-focused, with emphasis on cleaner surroundings, reliable civic services, improved infrastructure and better quality of life for residents.
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