Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Urban Conclave 2025, a flagship two-day event aimed at steering the state’s cities toward a smarter, inclusive, and sustainable urban future, was formally inaugurated today by Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Urban Development, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra.
The conclave, hosted by the Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, aligns with the long-term vision of a Viksit Odisha by 2036 and Viksit Bharat by 2047. Held under the theme “Collaborate. Build. Progress.,” the inaugural session in Bhubaneswar convened key stakeholders, including Municipal Commissioners, Executive Officers, and engineers from all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
In his keynote address, Dr. Mohapatra emphasized the vital role of sustainable urban infrastructure, efficient service delivery, and empowered local governance. He commended ULBs for their implementation of flagship schemes and called for increased innovation and inter-city knowledge sharing.
Setting the context for the event, Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, highlighted the state’s comprehensive urban development roadmap. She stressed the importance of collaborative governance, citizen-centric planning, and technological adoption for achieving future-ready cities. The welcome address was delivered by Arindam Dakua, Director of Municipal Administration.
The two-day strategic dialogue will feature sessions structured around pressing urban challenges and emerging opportunities, including:
- Urban Governance & Infrastructure Development
- Integrated Urban Planning & Mobility
- e-Governance & SAHAJOG for enhanced administrative transparency
- Financial Management for improving municipal creditworthiness
- Scaling up the PM SVANidhi scheme for urban livelihoods
- Focus on Urban Housing, Sanitation, and Water Supply
Dignitaries at the event underscored the necessity of cross-sector collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and resilient infrastructure. The conclave is positioned as a key platform for knowledge-sharing and policy dialogue, reaffirming the state’s commitment to creating citizen-first, future-ready cities in Odisha.