Odisha: Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krishna Chandra Mahapatra announced the launch of a new urban housing policy, “A Roof for All,” in the state during a review meeting. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide housing to people living in urban areas and expand access to housing.
According to the minister, the scheme aims to provide housing to approximately 80 percent of the state’s urban population by 2036. This ambitious scheme will be implemented in three phases, including a special rental housing model for the economically weaker section (EWS), the low-income group (LIG), and the migrant and temporary population.
The government has selected Rourkela city for the launch of this scheme. After the initial phase, it will be gradually expanded to other cities in the state. District collectors have been instructed to identify suitable land for projects and allocate it on a priority basis to ensure timely completion.
During the meeting, Minister Mahapatra also emphasized planned and scientific urban development. He reviewed the town planning scheme based on the land pooling model. Under this model, 40 percent of the total land will be used for public infrastructure such as roads, drainage, sewerage, and other civic amenities, while the remaining 60 percent will be returned to the original landowners after development.
The Minister also reviewed ongoing work under the Chief Minister’s Smart City Plan. In the first phase of this plan, 49 cities have been identified for development. He directed officials to pay special attention to modern road networks, improved drinking water supply, robust sewerage and drainage systems, and urban beautification.
Mahapatra said that the objective of urban development plans should not be merely construction, but to provide a better quality of life to citizens. He urged officials to complete projects in a timely manner and maintain quality.
This initiative is considered a significant step in the state’s urban development, and is expected to see major improvements in residential infrastructure and amenities in Odisha’s cities in the coming years.
