States » EastPosted at: Oct 27 2026 9:01PM


Odisha brings 11 strategic partners on board to transform urban governance

Bhubaneswar, Oct 27 (UNI) In a significant step towards strengthening urban governance and accelerating sustainable urban development, the Odisha government has brought 11 strategic partner organisations on board under its flagship ANKUR initiative.
The programme aims to enhance the institutional capacity of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), improve municipal service delivery and develop innovative, citizen-centric solutions to address the growing challenges of urbanisation.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between government priorities and specialised expertise by bringing together research institutions, technical experts, civil society organisations and private-sector partners to support urban development across the state.
The ANKUR Partners’ Handbook was released during the Urban Mobility India Conference and the National Urban Conclave 2026, held in Bhubaneswar. The handbook outlines the initiative’s framework, strategic partnerships and key interventions aimed at improving the effectiveness of urban administration.
Conceptualised by Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary in the Housing and Urban Development Department, Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform(ANKUR),was formally launched by the Odisha government on May 28, 2025.
Aligned with the visions of Viksit Odisha @2036 and Viksit Bharat @2047, the initiative is structured around four key pillars: capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation.
The 11 organisations selected as strategic partners under ANKUR are Tata Steel Foundation, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, Urban Management Centre, eGov Foundation, Lighthouse Communities Foundation, UN-Habitat, Prosperiti, Air Pollution Action Group, Airawat Research Foundation, Socratus Foundation and WRI India.
Official sources said each organisation brings specialised expertise in areas such as urban governance, municipal finance, digital service delivery, livelihood promotion, environmental sustainability and urban planning.
Through these collaborations, the state government aims to translate policy priorities into practical, locally relevant solutions that address the specific needs of individual cities and municipalities.
One of ANKUR’s notable interventions has been in the area of urban development regulations. Technical support provided by Prosperiti has contributed to changes in the Odisha Development Authorities Rules.
The changes include rationalisation of building standards, reduction in industrial land footprint requirements and the introduction of a more flexible negative-list zoning framework.
These reforms are aimed at making urban development regulations more responsive to changing requirements while supporting efficient land use and facilitating development activities.
Beyond administrative and regulatory reforms, ANKUR places emphasis on expanding employment opportunities and promoting social inclusion in urban areas.
Its interventions seek to strengthen livelihood opportunities, support vulnerable urban communities and improve the overall sustainability of cities.
By bringing government departments, research institutions, technical experts, civil society organisations and private-sector partners onto a common platform, Odisha aims to create a collaborative model of urban governance that combines policy direction with specialised knowledge and practical implementation.
Through ANKUR, the state government seeks to strengthen municipal institutions, encourage innovation and improve the quality of urban services, while preparing its cities to meet the demands of rapid urbanisation.
The initiative, sources said is expected to play a supporting role in advancing Odisha’s long-term development ambitions by promoting more efficient, inclusive and sustainable urban management.
UNI DP
Tags: #Odisha brings 11 strategic partners on board to transform urban governance
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