Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra emphasised the need for planned City growth to meet the challenges of rapid urbanisation and to create greener, cleaner urban spaces that promote healthy living and environmental balance.
Chairing a comprehensive review meeting with senior officials from various wings of the department Wednesday, Mahapatra directed them to take up planned initiatives on priority and ensure their completion within the stipulated time frame. He underscored the importance of timely execution and accountability to deliver tangible results on the ground.
The minister highlighted the urgent need to strengthen manpower across urban local bodies (ULBs) and instructed that each ULB must have at least one junior engineer or assistant engineer to ensure proper monitoring of projects and smooth delivery of basic urban services. ‘Citizens’ welfare is the government’s foremost priority,” Mahapatra emphasised, adding that officials must ensure uninterrupted access to essential services while building sustainable and inclusive cities.
The minister further stressed the need for robust service delivery mechanisms to enhance the quality of life in cities and towns and urged officials to adopt innovative approaches and work in close coordination with ULBs to achieve the department’s objectives.