Bhubaneswar, 11 July (H.S.): The Odisha Government, in collaboration with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), on Saturday organised a one-day capacity-building workshop to strengthen urban infrastructure development and enhance the capabilities of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Development Authorities under the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF).

Addressing the workshop, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the state is focusing on a revenue-based model to make ULBs financially self-reliant, enabling them to generate their own resources for infrastructure development. He urged urban bodies to contribute towards achieving Odisha's Vision 2036 and the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee said the workshop aimed to equip ULBs and Notified Area Councils (NACs) with the financial and technical capacity required to implement large-scale urban infrastructure projects. She noted that the Urban Challenge Fund, launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on April 15, 2026, offers a major opportunity to transform urban infrastructure in the state.

Odisha has submitted 12 projects worth ₹4,262 crore under the first phase of the UCF. Of these, the National Apex Committee has approved four major projects with a total budget of ₹2,801 crore, including the Sambalpur Storm Water Drainage System, Sambalpur Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Berhampur ICCC, and Bhubaneswar Town Centre & Nicco Park Lake Zone Development. The projects have received central assistance of ₹529.81 crore.

Experts from HUDCO, the World Bank, Deloitte, Janagraha and other institutions conducted technical sessions on project financing, municipal bonds, public-private partnerships (PPP), and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), while also providing project mentoring to participating urban local bodies.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda