Bhubaneswar, 13 October (H.S.) : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday inaugurated two affordable housing projects at Ghatikia and Gadakana in Bhubaneswar, providing a total of 1,608 housing units for eligible families. He also dedicated 12 modern playgrounds across the capital and its adjoining areas to the public and laid the foundation stone for an affordable rental housing project at Gadakana under the PMAY-Urban BANDHU scheme.

Addressing the gathering at Ghatikia, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to providing permanent houses to people from all sections of society, ensuring their security and dignity.

“We want to build a Bhubaneswar where poor families can live with dignity, workers can access affordable housing, young people can develop their talents, and every citizen can lead a healthy and better life,” Majhi said.

The two projects inaugurated by the Chief Minister include Nilakantheswar Niwas at Ghatikia, comprising 928 housing units built at a cost of Rs 66.48 crore on more than five acres, and Mukteswar Residency at Gadakana, comprising 680 units constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 95 crore on more than six acres.

In addition, housewarming ceremonies were organised for 962 families at Buddha Vihar, Nilamadhab, Subudhipur and Shantipalli.

Majhi said that a roof over one's head was one of the most essential necessities of life after food. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government was addressing the basic needs of poor families by providing not only houses but also toilets, piped drinking water, electricity and cooking gas.

He said more than two lakh houses had been sanctioned in Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, while the state government planned to provide around five lakh houses through the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana.

Emphasising the importance of sports and physical well-being, Majhi dedicated 12 modern playgrounds developed by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) in the capital and adjoining areas.

The facilities are intended to nurture sporting talent among children and young people while promoting physical fitness and well-being among senior citizens.

The playgrounds are located at Bajarangi, K-4, Kolathia, Tamando, Nakhara, the CBSE Regional Office, Jatni? Jadu pur, Damana High School, Unit-II Girls' High School, Bhubaneswar Central Upper Primary School, Ghatikia, Unit-VIII Boys' High School and Saheed Nagar High School.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the housing and sports initiatives would contribute to making Bhubaneswar a safer, more inclusive and balanced city.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for an affordable rental housing project at Gadakana under the PMAY-Urban BANDHU scheme, aimed at providing low-cost accommodation to migrant workers and families belonging to economically weaker sections in urban areas.

Majhi said the initiative would enable workers to live at affordable rents close to their workplaces, reducing housing-related difficulties and improving access to employment opportunities.

During the programme, the Chief Minister handed over housing allotments to beneficiaries of Nilakantheswar Niwas at Ghatikia, including Laxmidhar Sethi, Naimuddin Khan, Ramachandra Sethi and Rasik Khandayatray. At Mukteswar Residency in Gadakana, the beneficiaries included Nirmala Barik, Sasmita Patra, Rupa Sahu and Draupadi Devi.

He also distributed bank loan assistance to five beneficiaries from Buddha Vihar. Tulasi Tiria and Durga Charan Singh received Rs 1.20 lakh each, Rashmika Nayak and Prafulla Maharana received Rs 1.35 lakh each, while Sarbeswar Gaya received Rs 1.25 lakh.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the new homes would give slum dwellers a fresh identity and help them lead more dignified lives. He said the Chief Minister envisioned providing attractive and affordable housing to all slum residents so that families could have permanent addresses and better living conditions.

He added that access to proper housing could positively influence children's education and the social standing of their families.

Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh said owning a house in the state capital was a cherished dream for many families. He remarked that the dream of providing homes to poor families had been realised in a much shorter period.

“We did not need 24 years to fulfil this dream; 24 months were enough,” Singh said.

Khordha MLA Prashant Jagdev said providing adequate food, housing and clothing to everyone remained a fundamental objective and a basic necessity for every citizen.

Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das described the occasion as a moment of happiness for the city's residents and a special gift during the festive season. She said the housing initiative would help beneficiaries lead lives with greater dignity.

BDA Vice-Chairman and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Chanchal Rana delivered the welcome address, while BDA Secretary Manas Ranjan Padhi proposed the vote of thanks.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda