Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has proposed amendments to the Odisha Town Planning Service Group-A (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018, to facilitate the recruitment of 19 Assistant Town Planners in the Directorate of Town Planning through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
According to an official press statement issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department on Monday, the proposed changes aim to streamline the recruitment framework, strengthen professional expertise in town planning and address observations made by the OPSC during scrutiny of the recruitment proposal.
Under the proposed amendments, the age eligibility for direct recruitment will be revised to 21–42 years, with the age calculated as on January 1 of the recruitment year.
The educational qualification criteria will also be rationalised. Candidates will be required to possess either a Bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate degree in Planning, or Associate Membership of the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), from a recognised university or institution.
The amendments also seek to empower the OPSC, in consultation with the state government, to regulate recruitment-related matters that are not specifically covered under the existing rules.
The proposed recruitment is expected to augment technical capabilities in the Directorate of Town Planning and improve planning support for Development Authorities, Regional Improvement Trusts, Special Planning Authorities and Urban Local Bodies.
The initiative is also aimed at strengthening the state’s institutional capacity for scientific land-use planning, sustainable urban development, climate-resilient urban growth and efficient development management.
The department said the proposed changes align with the state government’s broader vision of planned, inclusive and sustainable urbanisation under Odisha Vision 2036 and Vision 2047.
