Latest news with #KrushnaChandraMahapatra
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
ANKUR launched to catalyse urban growth
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday launched ANKUR, a strategic initiative designed to catalyse urban growth across the State. On the occasion, the State's Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department signed MoUs with six leading organisations engaged in the urban development ecosystem in the presence of department minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. Speaking at the launch, Mahapatra said, 'ANKUR – Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms — represents a collective promise to build cities that are efficient, smart and above all, citizen-centric. This is a movement toward a Viksit Odisha, co-authored by communities, institutions and the government alike.' Department's Principal Secretary Usha Padhee said the genesis of ANKUR was not a single moment, but rather a series of reflections, conversations and collaborations. 'It was born out of a growing realisation within our department that the pace and complexity of urbanisation in Odisha required new thinking, new partnerships and new platforms,' she added. Over the past year, through internal consultations and engagements with experts, practitioners and institutions across the country and beyond, a vision began to take shape, she said, adding that ANKUR emerged as an answer to those questions — a platform to co-create solutions, to institutionalise innovation and to sustain partnerships that can carry us through the next decade of urban growth. As Odisha's urban population is projected to triple by 2036, ANKUR has been envisioned as a transformative platform to co-create resilient, livable and future-ready cities. 'ANKUR aligns with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047, while responding to Odisha's unique socio-economic and urban context. It will strengthen four strategic pillars of urban development - capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support and innovation,' Padhee said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
State launches ANKUR to drive urban growth
Bhubaneswar: Housing and urban development department on Wednesday launched the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanization and Reform (ANKUR) to catalyse inclusive, sustainable, and innovative urban growth across the state. MoUs were signed here on Wednesday between the department and six leading institutions and organisations working in the urban development ecosystem. Urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said ANKUR represents a collective promise to build cities that are efficient, smart, and above all, citizen-centric. "This is a movement towards a Viksit Odisha," he added. Secretary Usha Padhee said the genesis of ANKUR was not a single moment, but rather a series of reflections, conversations, and collaborations. "It was born from a growing realisation within our department that the pace and complexity of urbanisation in Odisha required new thinking, new partnerships, and new platforms," she added. As Odisha's urban population is projected to triple by 2036, ANKUR has been envisioned as a transformative platform to co-create resilient, liveable, and future-ready cities. It will strengthen four strategic pillars of urban development: capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation, said an official statement from the department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo "ANKUR will serve as the institutional backbone to drive reform, innovation, and evidence-based urban decision-making in the state. With a commitment to decentralisation, inclusivity, and knowledge-led action, the initiative will foster a new era of urban partnerships ensuring that no city, and no citizen, is left behind," said the official statement.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Odisha govt launches ‘ANKUR' for inclusive and sustainable urbanisation
Bhubaneswar: The state Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UD) on Wednesday launched ANKUR – Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation & Reform, a strategic initiative designed to catalyse inclusive, sustainable, and innovative urban growth across the state. The department, in an official statement, termed the launch of the initiative as a landmark step towards redefining the future of urban development in Odisha. The H&UD Department has signed MoUs with six leading institutions and organisations working in the urban development ecosystem. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, the minister for Housing & Urban Development, who attended the event as Chief Guest, said, 'ANKUR" represents a collective promise, to build cities that are efficient, smart, and above all, citizen-centric. This is a movement towards a 'Viksit Odisha', co-authored by communities, institutions, and government alike.' Usha Padhee, the Principal Secretary, H&UD Department, also noted that the genesis of ANKUR was not a single moment, but rather a series of reflections, conversations, and collaborations. 'It was born from a growing realisation within our department that the pace and complexity of urbanisation in Odisha required new thinking, new partnerships, and new platforms. Over the past year, through internal consultations and engagements with experts, practitioners, and institutions across the country and beyond, a vision began to take shape. ANKUR emerged as an answer to those questions, a platform to co-create solutions, to institutionalise innovation, and to sustain partnerships that can carry us through the next decade of urban growth,' Padhee added. The department also highlighted that as Odisha's urban population is projected to triple by 2036, ANKUR has been envisioned as a transformative platform to co-create resilient, livable, and future-ready cities. Anchored in the values of collaborative governance, ANKUR aligns with the national aspiration of 'Viksit Bharat @2047', while responding to Odisha's unique socio-economic and urban context. The department claimed that it will strengthen four strategic pillars of urban development - capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support and innovation. As per the official statement, ANKUR will serve as the institutional backbone to drive reform, innovation, and evidence-based urban decision-making in the state. The initiative is poised to become the nerve centre of Odisha's urban reform agenda. With a commitment to decentralisation, inclusivity, and knowledge-led action, the initiative will foster a new era of urban partnerships, ensuring that no city, and no citizen, is left behind.
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Odisha govt to offer houses at Rs 15 lakh-Rs 50 lakh to people in Bhubaneswar: Minister Mahapatra
BHUBANESWAR : In what could come as a huge relief for aspiring home buyers amid skyrocketing real estate prices in the capital city, the state government is planning to construct and provide houses to people in an affordable range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Saturday told mediapersons as part of the 'Greater Bhubaneswar and Better Bhubaneswar' initiative, the government is planning to take up housing projects in the city in which dwelling units will be provided to people at very affordable prices. 'Currently, a house in the state capital costs at least Rs 1 crore. We are planning to provide different categories of LIG (low income group) and MIG (middle income group) houses to people in the range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The H&UD department is working out a comprehensive plan in this regard,' Mahapatra said. He said the growing population of the city is leading to shortage of land in the capital city and imposing huge burden on the civic infrastructure. 'Steps are being taken to expand the capital region through implementation of town-planning schemes. The schemes implemented by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will expand the periphery of the city allowing people to buy houses at more affordable prices,' he said. The minster said plans are also being worked out for decongestion of traffic in the city. 'Proposals to construct overbridges at key junctions to decongest traffic is under consideration. We will also run more city buses to improve the capital's public transport system,' he added. Mahapatra stressed government focus on improving the smart city infrastructure. 'The smart city projects implemented earlier have not been fruitful. We are working on improving these infrastructure and make them effective,' he said. Action plan for Gangua nullah Bhubaneswar: The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department will soon work out an action plan for desiltation and cleaning of Gangua nullah and Daya West Canal to increase their carrying capacity and address the problem of urban flooding in the capital city. A team led by H&UD secretary Usha Padhee carried out a field assessment on Saturday
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Urban flood management plan ahead of monsoon
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has introduced a comprehensive Urban Flood and Waterlogging Management Action Plan for all civic bodies across the State. The initiative of the Housing and Urban Development department aims to safeguard public health, infrastructure and livelihoods of people in urban local bodies (ULBs) through a series of preventive, preparatory and responsive measures, an official said on Saturday. The plan is made on drainage, solid waste management, flood-prone area mitigation, shelter preparedness, disease prevention and others, he said. The southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country is most likely to be above normal, another official said. 'Under the plan, all the ULBs will set up monsoon-specific control rooms, which will operate on a 24/7 basis during the season, to promptly address public grievances related to waterlogging, blocked roads and water supply disruptions,' the Urban Development department official said. These ULBs are also asked to involve the community in the waterlogging situation, he said. According to the action plan, elected representatives, ward committees, local volunteers, and women self-help groups (WSHGs) will be engaged in local-level preparedness and response activities. The department has plans to hold a high-level inter-departmental coordination meeting before the first week of June 2025, involving fire services, drainage division, minor irrigation and other stakeholders to streamline efforts and ensure resource readiness. Housing & Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said: 'Proactive planning and community participation are the cornerstones of our strategy. Our goal is to ensure that urban areas remain resilient, safe and prepared for the challenges of an intense monsoon.' A 100 per cent inspection, desilting and repair work of all drains and manholes in ULBs will be conducted to ensure free flow of drain water. Special attention will be given to repairing damaged drain covers and removing encroachments that obstruct drainage channels. Bar screens and wire meshes will be installed at tertiary drains to filter solid waste and prevent blockages during heavy rains. Local personnel will monitor these sites and carry out waste removal. Roads blocked due to fallen trees and debris following cyclonic events will be cleared promptly with a road restoration deadline of 72 hours. Waterlogging hotspots will be identified and pump sets along with emergency equipment will be deployed. Zone-level officers will be appointed to manage real-time emergency responses.
