Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards strengthening institutional capacity and building a future-ready urban governance ecosystem, the Government of Odisha today inaugurated the newly constructed Hostel of the Odisha Urban Academy (OUA) at Basuaghai, Bhubaneswar.
The modern residential facility was inaugurated by Minister for Housing & Urban Development, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, in the presence of Babu Singh, MLA, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Debabrata Mohanty, Managing Director, WATCO, and senior officials of the Department.
On the occasion, the Annual Training Calendar of the Odisha Urban Academy was also unveiled, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to continuous learning, professional development and institutional excellence in the urban sector.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 9.45 crore, the Odisha Urban Academy Hostel has been developed as a dedicated residential facility to support trainers, trainees, urban professionals, elected representatives and other stakeholders participating in various capacity-building, training, research and knowledge-sharing programmes conducted by the Academy.
Designed to provide a comfortable, functional and learner-centric environment, the hostel can accommodate 56 residents through 28 twin-sharing rooms, including 24 standard rooms and 4 premium rooms, each equipped with attached toilets and balconies. The facility also includes a reception and administrative area, a dining hall with seating capacity for 40 persons, a modular kitchen, guest rooms, common utility spaces, spacious lobbies and community interaction areas.
To facilitate high-quality residential training programmes and workshops, the hostel houses a fully equipped conference hall, along with a gymnasium and indoor recreation facilities, ensuring a holistic and enriching experience for participants.
The building incorporates several modern amenities and sustainability features, including centralized air-conditioning, uninterrupted power backup, round-the-clock water supply, lift access and a solar power system to promote energy-efficient and environmentally responsible operations.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra highlighted the critical role of capacity building in achieving Odisha’s ambitious urban development goals. He stated that strong institutions and skilled human resources are essential for delivering efficient, citizen-centric urban services and addressing the emerging challenges of rapid urbanization.
The Minister noted that the Odisha Urban Academy has evolved into a unique urban learning hub equipped with practical demonstration facilities such as a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Septage Treatment Plant (SSTP), and Material Recovery Facility (MRF). These facilities provide hands-on exposure to modern urban sanitation, waste management and water reuse practices.
“Participants can learn how treated wastewater can be reused and gain practical knowledge of sustainable urban management systems. People from different states and even other countries can come here for training. However, the absence of accommodation facilities had been a major constraint. With the inauguration of this hostel, a larger number of trainees can now stay on campus and benefit from the Academy’s training programmes,” the Minister said.
Dr. Mohapatra further informed that a beautifully landscaped public park has also been developed within the Academy campus for the benefit of local residents. Children’s play equipment have been installed, making the campus a vibrant community space that combines learning, recreation and public engagement.
MLA Babu Singh commended the Government’s continued investment in strengthening urban governance infrastructure and human resource development. He remarked that the Odisha Urban Academy has emerged as a vital platform for enhancing the capacities of urban local bodies and nurturing future-ready urban leadership. The newly inaugurated hostel, he said, would greatly expand opportunities for residential training, knowledge exchange and skill development, enabling a larger number of officials, elected representatives and urban professionals to benefit from the Academy’s programmes. He expressed confidence that the facility would further reinforce Odisha’s position as a leader in innovative and sustainable urban development.
Speaking on the occasion, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD Department, emphasized that the Odisha Urban Academy is steadily emerging as a premier centre of excellence for urban learning, innovation and leadership development. She stated that the addition of the hostel facility would significantly enhance the Academy’s capacity to conduct residential training programmes, workshops, exposure visits and professional development initiatives for urban local body officials, engineers, planners, elected representatives and sector professionals from across the State.
The inauguration of the OUA Hostel marks an important milestone in Odisha’s efforts to create world-class urban capacity-building infrastructure. The facility is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening urban institutions, improving governance outcomes and supporting the State’s vision of sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development.
