Bhubaneswar: IAS officer Chanchal Rana officially assumed charge as the Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, pledging to prioritize public welfare, address citizen grievances, and strengthen Bhubaneswar’s standing as a clean, green, and inclusive capital city.
Rana took over responsibilities at the BMC headquarters in a formal ceremony this morning. Soon after, he held a courtesy meeting with Mayor Sulochana Das, Deputy Mayor Manjulata Kanhar, standing committee chairpersons, and corporators.
The BMC leadership extended a warm welcome and assured full cooperation in advancing the city’s developmental agenda.
In his first media address as Commissioner, Rana underscored the importance of collaborative governance.
“Efforts will be made in partnership with service providers, citizen forums, public representatives, and officials to ensure timely resolution of grievances and execution of pending projects,” he said.
He reiterated that public welfare must be the guiding principle for every official and appealed to residents to actively participate in the city’s progress.
Later in the day, Rana participated in a video conference with Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Usha Padhee to discuss ongoing urban initiatives.
He also reviewed active projects with BMC engineers and sub-divisional officers, signaling a hands-on approach to administration from the outset.
Rana emphasized BMC’s goal to make Bhubaneswar more citizen-centric through the effective implementation of government schemes.
He praised the commitment of sanitation workers and BMC staff, whose efforts helped the city achieve the 9th position in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings. He expressed confidence that with sustained dedication, Bhubaneswar could aim for an even higher rank in future surveys.
Welcoming gestures poured in throughout the day from various agencies, civic bodies, and BMC-affiliated stakeholders, marking a positive start to Rana’s tenure as Commissioner.
