Bhubaneswar, 20 March (H.S.): In a major push to strengthen urban infrastructure and promote clean energy adoption, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department of the Government of Odisha has initiated the process to formulate a comprehensive City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy.

A high-level consultative meeting was held at Kharabela Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD and Chairperson of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation. The meeting was conducted in collaboration with GAIL (India) Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

The discussion focused on developing a strategic roadmap for expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure across urban Odisha, with an emphasis on creating a future-ready, citizen-centric policy aligned with the state’s long-term development goals.

Chairing the session, Padhee stressed the need for a practical yet aspirational policy framework to accelerate the expansion of city gas networks. She noted that the proposed policy would improve access to clean, efficient, and reliable energy while supporting sustainable urban development and enhancing service delivery.

She also reiterated the state government’s commitment to simplifying procedures, expediting infrastructure rollout, and improving ease of living for citizens through a forward-looking policy approach.

Key deliberations included streamlining approval processes, rationalising licence fees, introducing single-window clearance systems, and implementing deemed approval mechanisms. The meeting also explored institutional coordination, adoption frameworks, and service delivery models to ensure seamless implementation.

The initiative is being undertaken in close coordination with leading energy stakeholders such as GAIL and IOCL to leverage technical expertise and ensure efficient execution of city gas infrastructure projects across the state.

The proposed CGD policy is expected to accelerate the rollout of PNG infrastructure, enhance coordination among stakeholders, and position Odisha as a leader in clean and sustainable urban energy solutions.

Senior officials present at the meeting included Arindam Dakua, Director of Municipal Administration; Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation; senior representatives from IOCL and GAIL; along with officers from IDCO and the H&UD Department, including Nihar Ranjan Behera, CGM, IDCO; Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; and Suvendu Kumar Sahoo, Additional Secretary, H&UD.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda