In a heartwarming milestone, 176 beneficiaries from five slum pockets in Bhubaneswar—Venkateswar Basti, Mahavir Basti (TTS), Tarini Basti, Panabaraj Basti, and Nicco Park Basti—received their dream homes today under the Affordable Housing Scheme (AHS)-AWAS.
The allotment, held at the Budha Bihar Housing project, was conducted through a transparent lottery process, chaired by Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das and Commissioner Chanchal Rana, IAS, to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
The lottery process was designed with care, grouping beneficiaries from the same slum into nearby blocks to preserve their social connections. Among the allottees, 25 differently-abled individuals were unanimously allocated ground-floor homes, a decision lauded by recipients who expressed gratitude for the government’s thoughtful approach.
Beyond the allotment, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) went the extra mile to ensure a smooth transition for the allottees. Commissioner Rana emphasised, “The process doesn’t end with allotment. We’re committed to helping beneficiaries settle into their new homes.” To this end, BMC organised a unique convergence of services, bringing together officials from TPCODL, Tahsildar BBSR, LPG providers, School and Mass Education, and Civil Supply departments.
This initiative facilitated immediate access to EWS certificates, bank linkages, ration card transfers, school admissions, electricity connections, and LPG transfers, streamlining the move-in process for families.
This event marks a significant step in BMC’s mission to provide affordable housing. To date, 3,760 beneficiaries across projects like Budhabihar, Mahisa Khala, Mandapa Basti, Pathara Bandha, Ranga Matia, Nilamadhaba, Santi Pali, and Subudhipur have been allotted Economically Weaker Section (EWS) homes within BMC’s jurisdiction.
The meeting was coordinated by Addl. Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo and Dy. Commissioner of Housing Ajaya Ku. Mohanty, with dignitaries including Addl. Commissioner BMC Sri Kailash Ch. Das, Addl. Commissioner BDA Manoj Swain, Dy. Commissioner Smt. Priyanka Mallick and Kajal Pradhan in attendance.
This initiative not only transforms lives but also sets a benchmark for inclusive urban development, ensuring that every beneficiary, regardless of physical ability or background, can step into a brighter future with dignity.
