Bhubaneswar: Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra today reviewed the progress of key developmental initiatives and priority programmes of the Department at a high-level meeting held at the 3rd Floor Conference Hall of Kharavel Bhawan.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee; Director of Municipal Administration , Arindam Dakua; Special Secretary Gangadhar Naik and Binaya Kumar Dash, along with all Additional Secretaries and other senior officers of the Department, attended the meeting.
The review covered several important policy and developmental initiatives, including the Draft Odisha Parking Policy 2026, Urban Mobility Plan, Urban Challenge Fund and the functioning of District Urban Development Agencies, besides other key departmental matters.
During the presentation on the Draft Odisha Parking Policy 2026, the proposed framework for transforming parking management in the State’s urban areas was discussed.
The policy seeks to address the growing pressure on limited urban road space due to increasing vehicle numbers through a planned, regulated and technology-enabled approach. It aims to make parking management an integral component of sustainable urban mobility, with greater emphasis on pedestrian convenience, public transport and efficient utilisation of available infrastructure.
The proposed policy places priority on pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities, emergency services and public transport in the allocation of urban road space. It also provides for the preparation of city-level Parking Master Plans and neighbourhood-specific Parking Area Management Plans to ensure scientific and location-sensitive parking arrangements.
Key provisions include demand-based parking charges, differential pricing for on-street and off-street parking, digital parking permits, real-time parking information, electronic payments and technology-enabled monitoring. The policy also promotes the shared utilisation of existing parking facilities, provision of EV-ready parking spaces and integration of parking infrastructure with public transport and non-motorised mobility systems.
Special parking and mobility management provisions are proposed for commercial areas, hospitals, educational institutions, residential neighbourhoods, industrial zones and transport hubs. The framework also emphasises institutional coordination among Urban Local Bodies, Traffic Police and other concerned authorities for effective implementation and enforcement.
The deliberations on the Urban Mobility Plan and Urban Challenge Fund focused on strengthening the planning and implementation framework for future urban infrastructure and mobility interventions. The functioning of DUDA offices was also reviewed, with emphasis on improving institutional effectiveness and ensuring efficient implementation of urban development programmes.
The meeting provided an opportunity to assess ongoing initiatives, discuss emerging priorities and strengthen coordination among various wings of the Department to accelerate urban development across Odisha.
The review reflects the Department’s continued focus on a coordinated and forward-looking approach to urban development, with the objective of creating more accessible, organised, sustainable and liveable cities across the State.
