Bhubaneswar: Smt. Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, has taken a decisive step in advancing Odisha’s digital frontier by overseeing the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the AIRAWAT Research Foundation at IIT Kanpur. This collaboration, centered on Smt. Padhee’s vision for a technology-led urban transformation, aims to integrate artificial intelligence into the heart of the state’s governance to create more efficient and citizen-focused cities.
During the signing ceremony at Kharabela Bhawan, Smt. Padhee emphasized Odisha’s dedicated commitment to integrating emerging technologies into the daily functions of urban planning and service delivery. She articulated that the goal is not just to create smarter cities, but to ensure they are humane, responsive, and inclusive. By leveraging the expertise of the AIRAWAT Research Foundation as an AI Innovation Partner, Padhee intends to foster a governance system rooted in transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and direct responsiveness to citizen needs.
Under the guidance of Smt. Padhee, the collaboration will focus on deploying priority AI solutions to tackle complex urban challenges while strengthening the state’s digital infrastructure. A central element of this initiative is the establishment of an AI Project Management Unit within her department. This unit will serve as the dedicated institutional mechanism to coordinate these high-tech initiatives, ensuring that the adoption of AI remains ethical and responsible while building internal capacity among government officials.
Smt. Padhee’s leadership in this partnership also includes the development of a multi-year AI roadmap for Odisha. This strategic plan will align with her broader vision for resilient urban development, identifying specific sectoral priorities and creating pathways to scale these technological solutions across various Urban Local Bodies. Supported by the eGov team and senior department officials, this initiative reinforces Padhee’s role in positioning Odisha as a leader in governance innovation and technology-driven public service.