Bhubaneswar: The 30th meeting of the Board of Directors of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) was held today under the chairpersonship of Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary at LokSeva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting was attended by Surendra Kumar, ACS, GA and PG Department, Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Chanchal Rana as Managing Director, BSCL, S. Dev Datta Singh, CP, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, Sanjay Kumar Biswal (Managing Director, CRUT) and other senior officers. The Board reviewed progress on major Smart City projects and approved several key measures to further strengthen citizen-centric urban governance and infrastructure.
The Board took note of the successful launch of the ‘SaharSathi’ 24×7 Call Centre (toll-free number 1929) by BSCL, inaugurated by the Chief Minister on 31 August 2025, which now serves all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across Odisha.
Key technology-driven initiatives reviewed included the installation of 3,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, adaptive traffic signal systems, and a city-wide Public Address System to enhance urban safety, women’s security, mobility, and real-time monitoring.
It was decided that Smart City SPVs will continue to function until and will prepare a sustainable action plan for future operations.
The Board also approved the improvement of Janpath to make it citizen-friendly, including the replacement of bamboo fencing with MS iron grills from Master Canteen to VaniVihar with urban planning elements.
It was also emphasised that the smart city mission would focus on solar energy adoption, development of rooftop rainwater harvesting and child-friendly public spaces. Initiatives to ensure access to clean public toilets, well-maintained public parks were recommended.
Anu Garg commended BSCL’s efforts in promoting innovation and digital governance and advised to continuously work for citizen-first urban governance. She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to making Bhubaneswar a model of an inclusive, resilient, and technology-driven city.
