Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to significantly increase the number of Notified Area Councils (NACs) as part of a major push for urban development.
Housing & Urban Development Department has issued a draft notification for the establishment of 12 new NACs across seven districts. Principal Secretary H&UD Smt.Usha Padhee is taking initiative in this regard.
- This initiative aims to strengthen local governance and boost urban infrastructure.
- The move is part of the government’s strategy to increase the state’s urbanization from 17% to 30%.
- The proposed NACs are in the following districts: Angul (Pallahara), Subarnapur (Birmaharajpur), Balasore (Simulia, Basta, Betnoti), Mayurbhanj (Bangiriposi, Chitrada), Rayagada (Bissam Cuttack), Sambalpur (Bamra, Rengali), and Bhadrak (Tihidi, Dhusuri).
- In a separate announcement, the Odisha government recently revealed plans for 21 new urban bodies, which would bring the total number of urban local bodies in the state to 149, including 92 NACs, 52 municipalities, and five municipal corporations.