• Three aspects to focus on: the systems for planning and operating our cities, solutions implemented at the grassroots level, and the methods of service delivery to citizens – Housing and Urban Development Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu
  • Prosperous Odisha and Developed India 2047: Guided by this vision, Odisha is moving towards a new era of planned urbanisation, modern infrastructure and sustainable mobility – Mr Mohan Chandra Mahaji
  • First day discussions focused on seven thematic areas

Housing and Urban Development Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu opened the second National Urban Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The conference, scheduled for 24 and 25 October 2026, is organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the Odisha government. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is the knowledge partner. Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) and National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) are the main sponsors of the conference

The theme of the conference is ‘City Uthaan – Rethinking Urban Systems, Solutions and Delivery’. Over 1200 participants, including the Urban Development Minister, mayors, urban local bodies, urban development authorities, academia, industry, civil society and the wider urban development ecosystem, will attend. The conference focuses on reimagining the systems, institutions and implementation mechanisms that shape how cities operate

Opening of the conference

Honourable Housing and Urban Development Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu, during the opening session, lit a traditional lamp and emphasised India’s ongoing urban transformation. He noted that the country’s urban population has risen from about 37.7 crore in 2011 to nearly 50 crore, and is expected to reach 60 crore by 2036. By the centenary of India’s independence, almost every second Indian will live in a city. He said that national programmes such as ‘PMAY’, ‘Amrit’, ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, ‘PM Swadhin’, ‘Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission’ and ‘Smart Cities Mission’ have laid a strong foundation for the next phase of urban development

At the occasion, the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Chandra Mahaji, shared the state’s ambition to become a major development engine in India’s journey towards ‘Developed India 2047’. He said, ‘Guided by the vision of a prosperous Odisha and Developed India 2047, Odisha is moving towards a new era of planned urbanisation, modern infrastructure and sustainable mobility. While working towards a 500‑billion‑dollar economy by 2036, our focus is on building inclusive, technology‑enabled and people‑centric cities. Expanding ‘Ama Bus’ services, launching electric buses and developing the Bhubaneswar‑Kataka‑Puri‑Paradeep economic corridor demonstrate our commitment to clean mobility, better urban infrastructure and a higher quality of life for our citizens. We are creating cities that are not only engines of economic growth but also safe, more accessible and more livable for all.’

On the occasion, the Secretary of Odisha, Mrs. Anu Garg, said, “Odisha’s ‘8S’ approach – Service Access and Service Reliability, Smart Mobility, Sustainability, Systems, Safety, Seamlessness, Inclusivity and Satisfaction – is committed to transforming urban mobility. With about 800 buses across eight cities, CRUT digital tickets, increased participation of female drivers and better facilities for passengers, we are strengthening public transport. With the expansion of EV infrastructure, our focus is on creating an integrated, inclusive and sustainable mobility ecosystem that makes public transport safe, smart and accessible for all.”

The Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Shri Satendra Singh, emphasised the need to rethink urban systems, collaborate on new solutions and strengthen service delivery mechanisms to make cities more livable, inclusive, resilient and future‑ready. He highlighted the role of key initiatives such as ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, ‘Amrit’, ‘Housing for All’, Metro Rail, ‘PM‑E‑Bus Service’ and ‘PM Swadhin’ in improving service delivery, encouraging citizen participation and strengthening urban resilience. He outlined recent initiatives and reforms, including the ₹1 lakh crore ‘Urban Challenge Fund’, ₹5,000 crore ‘Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme’, the ₹10,000 crore ‘Urbanisation Premium Grant’ recommended by the 16th Finance Commission and reforms under the SASCI scheme.

Chief Executive Officer of the NITI Aayog, Shri Anurag Jain, in his address said that institutionalising dialogue with state governments and maintaining continuous engagement is essential to advance India’s urban development agenda. He explained that the ‘Developed India 2047’ vision was crafted through broad participation and consultation, highlighting the role of cities in driving social and economic development. By 2047, with about 50% of India’s population urbanised and contributing roughly 75% to GDP, he stressed the need for planned and coordinated urbanisation supported by investment, institutional response and capacity building.

Additional Secretary of the Odisha government, Mrs. Usha Padhy, presented a thank‑you note. She expressed gratitude for hosting the National Urban Conference and showcasing Odisha’s initiatives and experiences in urban development. She noted that the conference provided experts and stakeholders in urban development with an opportunity to learn and understand the state’s efforts. She thanked state ministers, the Chief Minister of Odisha, senior officials, state commissioners and everyone who contributed to organising the conference.

Inauguration and Publication

Several initiatives and publications were inaugurated during the opening programme:

Urban Invest Window (UIWIN) Journal

HUDCO’s Urban Invest Window (UIWIN) supports states and urban local bodies (ULBs) through project development, capacity building and preparing projects ready for investment. Robust project preparation and innovative financing are essential to translate urban aspirations into implementable projects that benefit citizens.

‘Samarthya’ Platform for CPHEO

An integrated portal for managing solid waste, reused water and water‑sector information and building capacity.

‘Ankur’ Handbook

‘Ankur Handbook: Key Achievements of 2025–26 and Improvement Priorities for 2026–27’, presents the progress and outcomes of the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (Ankur). The handbook highlights work in urban planning, municipal finance, institutional capacity building and digital governance through ‘Sujog’ (SUJOG).

Odisha Municipal Planning Handbook

Prepared by the Municipal Planning Directorate of the Odisha Government’s Housing and Urban Development Department in collaboration with NIUA, this handbook simplifies urban planning processes and rules. It also guides citizens on building plan and layout plan approvals.

Framework for Government and Private Public Spaces in Odisha

The proposed policy for Government‑Owned Public Spaces (GOPS) and Private‑Owned Public Spaces (POPS) aims to expand access to inclusive, accessible and well‑maintained public spaces. GOPS focuses on activating under‑used government and institutional land, while POPS incorporates publicly accessible plazas, green spaces and community areas into private development projects through planning rules and incentives.

E‑book: ‘My Home, My Pride’

A collection that includes the voices and experiences of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY‑U).

PMAY‑U 2.0 Mobile App E‑Inauguration

This app is an updated version of the existing mobile application.

PMAY‑U Award 2027 SOP

This SOP establishes the criteria and framework for assessing state performance, further encouraging and strengthening the implementation of urban housing initiatives.

Consultation on C&D Waste Management

This consultation, issued for ULBs, explains how to implement the ‘Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2025’. These rules will replace the 2016 rules and adopt a ‘Circular Economy’ approach. They include ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR), mandatory waste management and utilisation plans, recycling targets and an online portal for compliance.

‘Adequate Housing for All’ Result Report

This result report compiles discussions and recommendations from technical sessions held during World Habitat Day 2026. The sessions analysed how to realise rental housing opportunities, reduce the gap between demand and supply through regulatory measures and strengthen local and indigenous technologies for affordable housing expansion.

‘Guidance Document on Bulk Waste Generator Compliance’ also issued.

Technical Discussions

On the first day of the conference, discussions were held on seven topics.

Session on ‘Right to Walk’ discussed a daily problem in our cities: sidewalks, safe school zones, better pedestrian crossings and improving ‘last‑mile connectivity’ to make roads safer and more accessible.

Under ‘Water, Waste and Resource Efficiency’, the focus moved beyond infrastructure to service efficiency, reducing water loss, promoting reuse of treated water and extracting value from waste.

The session on ‘Affordable Housing’ highlighted the growing need for rental housing, simplifying regulatory approvals, improving access to land and finance, and adopting affordable and climate‑friendly construction technologies.

The session on ‘Integrated Urban Development and Infrastructure Delivery’ examined how better coordination among agencies, integrated utility planning and GIS‑based systems can reduce duplication and improve planning and implementation of urban infrastructure.

The session on ‘New Dimensions for Urban Service Delivery’ posed the question of how municipalities can provide better services through clear institutional responsibilities, stronger finance, procurement reforms, technical capacity and partnerships with the private sector.

The session on ‘Model Building By‑Laws’ focused on how to amend existing regulatory frameworks to simplify building approvals, strengthen safety and accessibility and adopt climate‑adapted and new construction technologies.

Finally, the ‘Model Municipal Law’ considered legislative reforms to strengthen municipal autonomy, clarify powers of elected representatives and executives, and improve institutional capacity and accountability in urban administration.