Bhubaneswar, 21 June (H.S.): The Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, will launch a statewide Urban Outreach Programme on June 24, 2026, to mark two years of the present state government. The initiative aims to enhance citizen engagement, highlight key achievements in urban development, and encourage public participation in shaping the state’s urban future.
The flagship state-level event will be held at the Town Hall of the Puri Municipal Corporation at 3:30 PM in the presence of Housing & Urban Development and Public Enterprises Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. In parallel, similar programmes will be organised across all Urban Local Bodies, including Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Notified Area Councils, ensuring direct outreach to citizens at the grassroots level.
The programme is being organised under the theme “Jan Bhagidari for Viksit Odisha: Empowered Citizens – Inclusive Cities – Sustainable Urban Future.” It seeks to bridge the gap between government initiatives and citizens by showcasing progress made in urban sectors such as drinking water supply, sanitation, affordable housing, urban infrastructure, public transport, and digital governance over the past two years.
According to officials, the initiative is designed to strengthen citizen-government partnership and promote public ownership in Odisha’s development journey, aligned with the vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047.
As part of the outreach programme, citizens will be briefed on major urban development projects, ongoing welfare schemes, and the government’s roadmap for future urban transformation. Beneficiaries of various Central and State schemes, including the SAHAJOG initiative, will receive work orders, sanction letters, and entitlement documents through a transparent public distribution mechanism.
The programme will also recognise sanitation workers, tax collectors, Self-Help Group members, community partners, and other frontline urban service providers for their contribution to improving urban living standards.
To promote participatory governance, the department will introduce a QR code-based digital feedback platform along with physical feedback counters, enabling citizens to submit suggestions, report infrastructure issues, and provide real-time feedback on urban services.
The state-level event in Puri will feature a detailed presentation on Odisha’s urban transformation by Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee. Documentary screenings highlighting achievements in housing, sanitation, drinking water, public transport, metro vision, and digital governance will also be showcased. Key highlights will include beneficiary testimonials, launch of the digital feedback system, and an address by Minister Dr. Mahapatra outlining the government’s future urban development roadmap.
Across the state, Urban Local Bodies will organise local outreach events featuring live telecasts of the Puri programme, awareness camps on government schemes, beneficiary interactions, distribution of achievement booklets, and grievance redressal facilities.
Senior officials said municipal commissioners and executive officers have been directed to ensure proper arrangements for mobilisation, venue management, and service delivery support. A real-time monitoring system will track participation, service delivery outcomes, and grievances received during the programme.
The Housing & Urban Development Department expressed confidence that the initiative will strengthen public trust, deepen citizen participation, and reinforce Odisha’s commitment to building inclusive, sustainable, and citizen-centric urban centres.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
