Bhubaneswar: In a strategic move to accelerate Odisha’s urban development agenda, Odisha Minister for Housing & Urban Development, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting at Kharavela Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.
Marking the start of a new governance mechanism, the Minister announced that the first Tuesday of every month will now be a dedicated review day for the H&UD Department. This institutionalised review framework—titled the “First Tuesday Review Drive”—aims to ensure real-time monitoring, swift implementation, and improved accountability across all flagship schemes and initiatives under the department.
During today’s meeting, the Minister conducted a comprehensive review of the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikas Yojana and its key components. He assessed the progress of sanitation, infrastructure, the implementation of the GARIMA scheme for dignity and welfare of sanitation workers, and budget utilisation. Emphasising the importance of timely outcomes, he directed officials to expedite works and streamline execution processes.
A major focus was laid on the Drink-from-Tap Mission, with the Minister calling for urgent action to ensure 24×7 access to safe and clean drinking water in all 115 urban areas. Reviewing the development of public amenities such as parks, libraries, and Kalyan Mandaps, he stressed the need for inclusive design and issued a special instruction to ensure every park has accessible infrastructure for persons with disabilities.Other critical issues discussed included enhancing revenue generation by Urban Local Bodies , filling up of vacant posts across the department, and scaling up capacity building for improved urban governance and service delivery.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, along with Director Municipal Administratio , the Special Secretary, all Additional Secretaries, and other concerned officials of the department.
