Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received a Special Recognition Award from the union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for undertaking the highest number of reforms under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0.
The award was presented in New Delhi Monday as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban Awards 2026, recognising Odisha’s efforts to simplify urban housing processes, strengthen implementation mechanisms and ensure more efficient delivery of housing benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
The recognition highlights the state’s reform-oriented approach to urban housing, with measures focused on improving administrative efficiency, strengthening coordination among institutions and leveraging technology to make implementation more transparent and effective.
These initiatives have helped create a more streamlined and citizen-centric mechanism for delivering PMAY-U 2.0 benefits, the Ministry said.
Welcoming the recognition, Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the award reflected the collective efforts of government officials, Urban Local Bodies and implementing agencies.
“This recognition is a matter of pride for Odisha and reflects the collective efforts of our officers, Urban Local Bodies and implementing agencies. Our objective is not merely to construct houses, but to ensure that every eligible urban family gets a safe, secure and dignified home through a transparent and citizen-centric system,” he said.
Mahapatra said the state would continue to focus on reforms, faster implementation and effective last-mile delivery under PMAY-U 2.0.
He said Odisha would work with determination to ensure that every eligible beneficiary receives the benefits of the scheme in a timely and hassle-free manner.
The Special Recognition Award marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s efforts to strengthen reform-driven and citizen-centric urban governance and further its commitment to the national vision of “Housing for All”, the minister said.