Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards promoting sustainable urbanisation and climate-resilient infrastructure, the Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, today facilitated the signing of a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre of Excellence on Low Carbon Construction Materials and Sustainable Development. The initiative is aimed at promoting research, innovation, capacity building and the adoption of sustainable construction practices to support Odisha’s vision of building cleaner, greener and future-ready cities.
The MoU was signed between the Odisha Urban Academy (OUA), IIT Bhubaneswar, and Development Alternatives by Suvendu Sahu, Director, Odisha Urban Academy; Professor Dinakar Pasla, School of Infrastructure, IIT Bhubaneswar; and Shashtant Patara,CEO, Development Alternatives, in the presence of Minister for Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, and Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee. The programme commenced with a welcome address by Binaya Kumar Dash, Special Secretary H&UD & Mission Director SBM(Urban).
Addressing the gathering Minister Mahapatra said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha is steadily progressing towards the goal of becoming a Viksit Odisha by 2036, contributing meaningfully to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised that urban development must extend beyond the creation of physical infrastructure to improving the quality of life through environmentally responsible planning, quality public infrastructure, and efficient civic services. He described the Centre of Excellence as a transformative initiative that will serve as a knowledge and innovation hub for advancing sustainable urban development in the State.
As its first major initiative, the Centre of Excellence will prepare a comprehensive roadmap for Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management for the rapidly urbanising cluster comprising Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Jatni and Pipili. The project will include scientific assessment of construction and demolition waste generation, preparation of an integrated waste management strategy, promotion of innovative technologies, institutional capacity building, and development of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The framework developed under this initiative is expected to serve as a scalable model for implementation across other urban centres in Odisha.
The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of the three collaborating institutions. IIT Bhubaneswar will provide research support, technical expertise and technological innovation; Development Alternatives will facilitate implementation and promote the adoption of sustainable construction technologies; while the Odisha Urban Academy will lead capacity building, policy support and knowledge dissemination among Urban Local Bodies and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee underscored the importance of strong institutional collaboration in addressing emerging urban challenges. She said that integrating sustainable construction practices, scientific waste management and evidence-based planning into the urban development framework will be critical to building resilient, resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable cities in Odisha.
Minister further stated that while the Centre will initially focus on low-carbon construction materials and Construction and Demolition Waste Management, its scope will gradually expand to other critical areas such as urban air quality monitoring, solid waste management, water quality assessment and other sustainability-related interventions. He expressed confidence that the Centre of Excellence would play a pivotal role in supporting Odisha’s transition towards climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and future-ready urban development, while creating replicable models for cities across the State.
