Argus News - Odisha Urban Development Hits Highest Spending in Five Years

Bhubaneswar, Apr 2: Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department has achieved its highest development expenditure in five years, marking a significant milestone in the state’s urban transformation journey.

As of March 31, 2026, the department recorded an expenditure of ₹8,575.61 crore, a sharp rise from ₹6,996.92 crore in 2022-23.

The success is credited to the coordinated efforts of “Team Urban,” guided by Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra’s policy leadership and Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee’s strong administrative oversight. Their focus on citizen-centric service delivery and strict monitoring has translated priorities into tangible results at the ground level.
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The department’s financial efficiency has also improved significantly, with overall utilization rates climbing to 86.50%, compared to 73.47% in the previous fiscal year. This demonstrates a clear shift toward converting budget allocations into real outcomes.

A major driver of this performance has been progress under the State Sector Schemes, where expenditure rose from ₹2,676.15 crore in 2022-23 to ₹4,285.45 crore in 2025-26, with an impressive utilization rate of 98.18%.
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The department has also excelled in distributing grants to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). For the fourth consecutive year, it achieved nearly full utilization of State Finance Commission allocations, recording 99.70% usage amounting to ₹1,489.51 crore. This ensures ULBs are adequately empowered to deliver essential urban services.

Performance under Centrally Sponsored Schemes has shown a strong rebound, with expenditure rising from ₹595.95 crore last year to ₹1,144 crore in 2025-26.

Looking ahead, the department has set an ambitious budget estimate of ₹10,762.87 crore for 2026-27, the highest in five years. This forward-looking allocation underscores the vision of not just maintaining but expanding urban infrastructure and service delivery across the state.