Bhubaneswar, 07 August (H.S.): The Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, organised a knowledge exchange session titled “Rethinking Urban Governance: Some Reflections” at Kharavela Bhawan, focusing on building efficient, inclusive and future-ready urban systems.
The session featured a keynote by Pralaya Kanungo of Leiden University, who emphasised the importance of citizen-centric governance in delivering accountable, responsive and high-quality urban services. Drawing on global experiences, he highlighted the need for resilient infrastructure, inclusive development and preparedness to tackle challenges such as urban flooding and climate change.
Discussions centred on strengthening Urban Local Bodies through institutional reforms, improved financial management, enhanced service delivery and greater decentralisation. Participants also stressed the role of data-driven decision-making and digital technologies in ensuring transparency and efficiency in urban governance.
Addressing the gathering, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, underscored the importance of continuous learning and adopting global best practices to transform municipal institutions into drivers of sustainable and citizen-focused urban development.
Senior officials, including Arindam Dakua and Subhendu Sahu, along with municipal commissioners and urban administrators across the state, participated in the session both in person and virtually.
The initiative reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening urban governance through collaboration, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
