New Delhi: As rapid urbanization continues to shape the landscape of India, housing has emerged as a critical pillar for inclusive urban development. In alignment with the national goal of Housing for All, the Government of Odisha is intensifying its efforts to address the growing complexities of land availability and financing.
Representing the Odisha’s interests, Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, and Shri Subhananda Mohapatra, Mission Director of the Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM), attended a high-level national workshop on Affordable Housing organized by NITI Aayog in the National Capital on 23 December.
The event marked the launch of a significant NITI Aayog report titled Comprehensive Framework to Promote and Enable Affordable Housing. This document serves as a strategic guide for states to navigate the hurdles of supply and demand in the urban housing sector. The workshop featured extensive brainstorming sessions with prominent leaders, including Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary of MoHUA; Shri Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary & Mission Director (Housing for All); Shri Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog; and Ms. Anna Roy, Programme Director at NITI Aayog.
The new framework introduces practical solutions for land management, such as innovative land aggregation models, the establishment of dedicated land banks, and the implementation of transparent inventory systems. To solve the persistent issue of funding, the report suggests the creation of State-level Shelter Funds and other fiscal mechanisms designed to unlock capital for affordable projects.
During the sessions, Smt. Usha Padhee emphasized that affordable housing is essential for creating resilient and future-ready cities. She noted that the NITI Aayog roadmap provides the necessary tools for Odisha to refine its Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) projects. She expressed the state’s intent to convert these national recommendations into localized strategies that ensure safe and dignified living conditions for all urban residents.
Following the workshop, the Odisha delegation plans to develop a context-specific action plan. This initiative will focus on operationalizing the framework’s recommendations to streamline housing delivery and enhance the quality of life in Odisha’s urban centers.