Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, convened the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 on Sunday at the Convention Centre Auditorium, Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, as a comprehensive review-cum-orientation programme for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the State.
The conclave brought together senior officials, municipal functionaries, urban planners, technical experts and other stakeholders to review the progress of urban development initiatives and deliberate on strategies for efficient, sustainable and citizen-centric urban governance.
Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD Department, Usha Padhee, delivered the welcome address and set the context for the conclave, outlining the broader vision and priorities for transforming Odisha’s urban landscape. She emphasised the need to strengthen institutional capacity, improve municipal performance, ensure effective financial management and promote outcome-oriented implementation of urban development programmes.
The morning technical sessions focused on budget and financial management, revenue augmentation, expenditure analysis and performance improvement of ULBs, including dedicated reviews of low-performing ULBs. The deliberations aimed to strengthen municipal finances and enhance the efficiency, accountability and quality of service delivery at the grassroots level.
Detailed discussions were also held on urban planning and infrastructure development, covering the Standard Operating Procedures for Town Planning Schemes, the ‘Samruddha Sahar’ framework, the Urban Challenge Fund, planned development of Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the ‘Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikas Yojana’, pedestrian-friendly roads and the Rural-Urban Transition Policy. The sessions underscored the importance of integrated planning and infrastructure development to ensure that urban growth remains inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
The conclave also reviewed the progress of several citizen-centric welfare programmes, including PM SVANidhi, Shelters for Urban Homeless, Sahajog, Sahajog Plus and the Aahaar scheme, with emphasis on effective implementation and improved outreach to intended beneficiaries.
Addressing the conclave, Minister for Housing & Urban Development Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra reiterated the Government’s commitment to sustainable urban transformation, citizen-centric services and planned infrastructure growth. He stressed the need for ULBs to improve their efficiency, responsiveness and service delivery standards in line with the growing aspirations and expectations of urban citizens.
Speaking to the media, the Minister highlighted the Government’s developmental roadmap and governance reforms aimed at accelerating urban development while ensuring that municipal bodies remain accountable and responsive to citizens. He emphasised that effective implementation, timely completion of projects and improved service delivery must remain central to urban governance.
The afternoon sessions further focused on e-governance through the SUJOG platform, housing initiatives under PMAY-U 2.0 and Affordable Rental Housing, urban mobility, expansion of the CRUT city bus network, and strengthening of solid and liquid waste management systems. The discussions highlighted the importance of technology-enabled governance, accessible housing, sustainable mobility and scientific waste management in building liveable and resilient cities.
A dedicated Technical Symposium on Used Water Management was organised in parallel, bringing together engineering teams, technical experts and practitioners from leading institutions and organisations. Specialists from CPHEEO, IIT Palakkad, IIT Roorkee, IIT Bhubaneswar, CEEW, CSE, OWSSB and the Water Resources Department participated in the technical deliberations.
The symposium focused on emerging approaches to decentralised wastewater treatment, STP/FSTP biosolids management and standards, urban drainage, safe reuse of treated wastewater and sustainable used-water management. The technical sessions provided an opportunity for practitioners and experts to exchange knowledge and explore scalable solutions suited to the diverse needs of Odisha’s urban areas.
The symposium concluded with industry presentations showcasing innovative technologies and solutions, including low-footprint Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), vacuum sewerage conveyance systems and mechanised sludge management solutions. These discussions are expected to contribute to the adoption of technology-driven and context-specific solutions for improved sanitation, wastewater management and environmental sustainability across the State.
The Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 provided a common platform for reviewing ongoing urban programmes, identifying implementation gaps, sharing best practices and charting a forward-looking roadmap for stronger Urban Local Bodies. The conclave reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to building planned, inclusive, resilient, sustainable and citizen-centric cities aligned with the aspirations of a rapidly urbanising Odisha.
