Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday said the state’s cities must be developed as economic hubs that create new opportunities for youth, promote entrepreneurship and generate employment.
“Our cities are not merely places to live; they are centres of employment, enterprise, education and prosperity,” Majhi said at the state-level celebration of Local Self-Government Day-2026 at OUAT Krushi Shiksha Sadan here.
The Chief Minister announced a special package of Rs 560 crore for infrastructure development in 28 newly constituted Notified Area Councils (NACs), with Rs 20 crore allocated to each NAC.
The funds will be utilised for development of roads, drains, markets and other infrastructure in the respective urban areas, officials said.
Majhi also inaugurated 593 projects involving an investment of Rs 323 crore across 62 urban areas under the Mukhyamantri Shahari Bikas Yojana. Of these, 423 projects worth Rs 102 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 170 projects estimated at Rs 221 crore.
Directing officials and employees of municipal bodies to provide services to citizens with dignity, the Chief Minister called for a change in work culture with greater use of technology, simplification of procedures and time-bound delivery of services.
He also urged elected representatives of urban areas to remain connected with people, listen to their grievances and maintain coordination with officials, saying the government was working by keeping the hopes, aspirations and needs of citizens at the centre.
On the occasion, MoUs were signed between the Odisha Urban Academy and Sri Sri University, Indian School of Business and National Institute of Urban Affairs for capacity building of municipal bodies. Another MoU was signed between Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT) and Sri Sri University.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the OSWAN Video Conferencing facility in 115 municipal bodies, besides launching the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Bandhu and Odisha Yatree S.O.S. App.
Majhi expressed gratitude to municipal employees, Swachh Sathi and Jal Sathi workers, sanitation workers and CRUT employees for their dedicated service.
He also interacted with Runu Pradhan, a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiary from Phulbani Municipality, regarding the construction of her house and appreciated her for completing it within the stipulated time.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said 28 new NACs and seven new municipalities had been constituted since the present government assumed office, while Puri had been accorded Municipal Corporation status.
The government was according equal importance to urban infrastructure development in smaller NACs and municipalities besides major cities, he said, and called for collective efforts to build a clean and drug-free Odisha.
Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh called for developing Bhubaneswar as an excellent city in education, healthcare and livelihood, while Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mayor Sulochana Das stressed the need for cooperation from urban residents for sustainable urban development.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said Odisha was targeting 40 per cent urbanisation by 2036 and 60 per cent by 2047.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee delivered the welcome address, while Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua proposed the vote of thanks.
