Latest news with #Mahapatra
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.
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
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt plans to operate hydrogen buses in capital city
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In an effort towards sustainable public transportation, state govt is likely to introduce hydrogen-powered buses in the capital city, marking a pioneering step in its commitment to clean energy initiatives. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra announced that the department has signed an agreement with a leading green energy company to launch a trial run of hydrogen buses in Bhubaneswar. The initial phase will see three hydrogen-powered buses operating on various routes across the city. "We are starting with three buses in Bhubaneswar as a pilot project. A dedicated depot will be constructed to support the operations," Mahapatra told reporters on Saturday. He said that based on the success of the pilot plan, govt will plan to expand the service to other parts of the state. "The buses will be plying on different routes of the city soon and will provide a sustainable public transport option to riders," Mahapatra said. India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus was showcased during the inaugural ceremony of India Energy Week, which was held in Goa in Feb last year. Later in Oct, housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri demonstrated the hydrogen bus fleet in New Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo The introduction of hydrogen buses aligns with Bhubaneswar's existing green public transport infrastructure, which already includes approximately 100 electric buses, including four double-decker e-buses operated by the Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut). A senior official of the housing and urban development department emphasised the initiative's significance in achieving net-zero emission targets. "Implementing clean energy practices in public transport can provide a substantial breakthrough in our environmental goals," the official said. Bhubaneswar's public transport system has witnessed remarkable evolution since 2018, starting with the introduction of Mo Bus, now rebranded as Ama Bus. The network currently serves the tri-city area of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. Commuters welcomed the Saturday's announcement. "The public transport system in Bhubaneswar has shown impressive improvement over the years. The addition of hydrogen buses could be another milestone in the journey," said Jyoti Dash, a frequent Ama Bus user.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Two lives snuffed out in separate road mishaps in Panchkula and Mohali
Two persons lost their lives in separate road mishaps in Panchkula and Mohali on Wednesday. In the first case, a 31-year-old IT professional died in a hit-and-run near a park in Sector 24 in Panchkula. The victim, Amit Sheoran of Sector 27, who worked at an IT company in MDC, is survived by his wife and a four-year-old son. His father, Nathu Ram, a retired director of Haryana's department of economic and statistical affairs, lodged the complaint with the police, detailing that his son, who usually came home late from work, didn't return on Wednesday night. He added that around 2.15 am on Thursday, when his wife called Sheoran, a policeman answered, informing her about the accident. Upon reaching the scene, his parents found him lying on the road, bleeding from his nose and mouth. Eyewitnesses informed them that he was struck by an unknown silver-coloured car while riding his Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle. An ambulance rushed Sheoran to civil hospital, Sector 6, where doctors declared him dead. Chandimandir police have registered a case under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are searching for the offender. In the second case, a 59-year-old man riding a Honda Activa scooter succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment after being hit by a speeding Hyundai Verna car in Sector 77, Mohali. The victim has been identified as Barinder Mahapatra, a resident of Mohali, who worked as a plumber. According to investigating officer ASI Jeet Chand, the accident took place around 10 am when Mahapatra was heading to work on his scooter. As he was passing Sector 77 and heading towards Sohana, the speeding car struck him from behind, leaving him critically injured. After the accident, the accused car driver rushed Mahapatra to Sohana Hospital and also deposited ₹25,000 for his treatment. However, Mahapatra succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon. After a postmortem examination, the body was handed over to his family. ASI Chand confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused car driver, who is currently absconding. His vehicle has been seized by the police.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Ashok Mahapatra calls on SOA president
Bhubaneswar: Padma Shri awardee and eminent neurosurgeon Ashok Kumar Mahapatra called on Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (SOA) Founder President Manojranjan Nayakon Saturday. The meeting took place after Mahapatra received Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution in the field of medical science. He received the award on April 28 from President Droupadi Murmu at a special ceremony held atRashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. A distinguished neurosurgeon of international repute, Mahapatra hasserved as the ViceChancellor of SOA and currently holds the position of ChiefAdvisor (Health Sciences) in the he held the position of Head of the Department of Neurosurgery atAIIMS, New Delhi, and was also the first Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. His exemplarywork has earned him a place among the top five neurosurgeons globally. During the meeting, Mahapatra discussed various aspects of SOA'sgrowth, development strategies and academic congratulated Mahapatra on being conferred the Padma Shri.
