Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been conferred a Special Recognition Award by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for undertaking the highest number of reforms under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, officials said Tuesday.
The award was presented in New Delhi on Monday at the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban Awards 2026, recognising the state’s efforts to streamline urban housing processes and improve the delivery of housing benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
According to the ministry, Odisha undertook a range of reforms aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency, improving coordination among implementing agencies and using technology to make the implementation of PMAY-U 2.0 more transparent and effective.
The measures have helped establish a more streamlined and citizen-centric mechanism for extending the scheme’s benefits, it said.
Welcoming the recognition, Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the award reflected the collective efforts of government officials, Urban Local Bodies and implementing agencies.
“Our objective is not merely to construct houses, but to ensure that every eligible urban family gets a safe, secure and dignified home through a transparent and citizen-centric system,” Mahapatra said.
He said the state would continue to focus on reforms, faster implementation and effective last-mile delivery under PMAY-U 2.0, and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the scheme’s benefits in a timely and hassle-free manner.
The award marks a significant recognition of Odisha’s reform-driven approach to urban housing and its efforts towards the national goal of “Housing for All”, Mahapatra said.
