Odisha's Urban Transformation: Major Progress Across Key Development Schemes
Odisha has demonstrated remarkable advancement across multiple urban development initiatives over the past three years, according to recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, provided comprehensive details in response to questions raised by BJD Rajya Sabha member Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, highlighting significant achievements under flagship programs including AMRUT 2.0, Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), PMAY-Urban, and newly introduced livelihood and mobility schemes.
AMRUT 2.0: Water Infrastructure Projects Gain Momentum
Under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, Odisha has received approval for 345 projects worth Rs 4,029 crore, primarily focusing on water supply enhancement and waterbody rejuvenation. The implementation status reveals that 236 projects are currently underway, while 89 projects have been successfully completed. A remaining 20 projects are yet to commence, indicating ongoing expansion of water infrastructure across urban centers in the state.
Smart Cities Mission: Near-Complete Execution in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela
The Smart Cities Mission has achieved exceptional progress in Odisha, with 104 out of 107 projects completed, representing an impressive 97% completion rate. These projects, executed in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, account for a substantial investment of Rs 3,426 crore, transforming urban landscapes with modern infrastructure and technological integration.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban: Structured Funding Allocation
Odisha has been allocated Rs 821 crore under SBM-U 2.0 for the mission period, with disbursements linked to annual action plans and expenditure milestones. The funding release shows Rs 120 crore disbursed in 2023-24 and Rs 4.75 crore in 2024-25, ensuring systematic implementation of sanitation and waste management initiatives across urban areas.
PMAY-Urban: Significant Housing Progress Achieved
Construction of houses in urban areas under PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0 has moved forward substantially, with 2.24 lakh houses sanctioned across the state. Currently, 1.92 lakh houses are under construction, while 1.69 lakh houses have been completed or delivered to beneficiaries, addressing urban housing needs through systematic implementation.
Livelihood and Mobility: New Schemes Replace Previous Initiatives
On the livelihood front, the earlier National Urban Livelihood Mission scheme concluded on September 30, 2024, with Odisha receiving Rs 8.44 crore in 2023-24. This has been replaced by the Deendayal Jan Aajeevika Yojana – Shehari, launched from October 1, 2024, which focuses on six vulnerable worker groups including construction, transport, gig, and domestic workers.
A major urban mobility intervention has been implemented through PM-eBus Sewa, with Rs 88.16 crore sanctioned for five participating cities: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, and Sambalpur. The state has received Rs 43.96 crore as the first tranche, with an additional release of Rs 9.84 crore to support electric bus infrastructure development.
Monitoring Mechanisms Ensure Timely Implementation
To ensure schemes progress according to schedule, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has established monitoring committees at both central and state levels that regularly review progress. These committees conduct field visits, provide technical handholding, and offer targeted guidance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to expedite implementation of pending projects and maintain momentum across all development initiatives.
The comprehensive data presented in Parliament underscores Odisha's commitment to urban transformation through coordinated implementation of multiple development schemes, with significant investments and completion rates demonstrating tangible progress across water infrastructure, smart city development, housing, sanitation, livelihood, and mobility sectors.
