Odisha’s cities must become centres of jobs, enterprise, education and prosperity, not just places to live, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Monday while inaugurating State-level Local Self-Government Day 2026 at OUAT’s Krishi Shiksha Sadan.
The Chief Minister announced a special ₹560-crore package for 28 newly formed Notified Area Councils — ₹20 crore each — for roads, drains, markets and other basic infrastructure. He also launched 593 projects worth ₹323 crore across 62 urban areas under the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikas Yojana. Of these, 423 works costing ₹102 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid for 170 projects worth ₹221 crore.
Through the Sahayog programme, 7,886 families and 2,77,595 people have already been linked to various government schemes.
Majhi directed municipal officers and staff to treat every citizen with dignity. He called for wider use of technology, simpler procedures and time-bound grievance redressal so that urban local bodies become the “powerful engines” of Odisha’s economic growth. Elected representatives, he said, must stay close to people, listen to their problems and work in coordination with officials.
On the occasion, the Odisha Urban Academy signed MoUs with Sri Sri University, the Indian School of Business and the National Institute of Urban Affairs. CRUT also signed an MoU with Sri Sri University. The Chief Minister launched OSWAN video-conferencing facilities in 115 urban local bodies, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Bandhu initiative and the Odisha Yatri SOS app.
He thanked sanitation workers, Jal Sathis, Swachh Sathis and CRUT staff, and praised a PMAY beneficiary from Phulbani, Runu Pradhan, for completing her house within the stipulated time.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra said the government has created 28 new NACs, seven new municipalities and upgraded Puri to municipal corporation status. Chief Secretary Anu Garg said Odisha aims to raise urbanisation to 40 per cent by 2036 and 60 per cent by 2047. Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh and BMC Mayor Sulochana Das also spoke, stressing citizen partnership in city-building.
