Bhubaneswar: A senior delegation from the World Bank arrived in Bhubaneswar on Friday to gain firsthand insight into Odisha’s major urban development programmes spearheaded by the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department.
The team was welcomed by the Department, where Principal Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the State’s roadmap for urban growth. Her briefing covered key achievements in areas such as piped drinking water coverage, citywide sanitation systems, mobility solutions, affordable housing expansion, and improved citizen-centric service delivery.
The visiting World Bank delegation comprised Mr. Johannes Zutt (Regional Vice President), Mr. Imad Fakhoury (Director), Ms. Keiko Inoue (Practice Manager – Education, South Asia), Ms. Aparnaa Somanathan (Practice Manager – Health & Social Protection, South Asia), Ms. Soumya Kapoor Mehta (Senior Economist), and Ms. Kritika Singh (Country Management Team).
During deliberations held at Kharavel Bhawan, the delegation interacted with senior officials and commended Odisha’s emphasis on evidence-based planning, measurable outcomes, and structured implementation of urban reforms.
Following the meeting, the team proceeded to Palasuni, where they toured several sanitation and waste-management facilities. Their visit included the 150-TPD Material Recovery Facility, the coconut waste recycling centre, the Water Treatment Plant, and localised waste-processing units. Members of the delegation also spoke with Swachh Karmis and women-led Self-Help Groups, appreciating how community-led models have strengthened environmental management and decentralised sanitation practices.
The delegation later met residents of Nilamadhab Niwas, an Affordable Housing initiative, where beneficiaries shared stories of improved living conditions, enhanced neighbourhood infrastructure, and better livelihood opportunities after relocation.
Throughout the day, the World Bank team acknowledged Odisha’s leadership in initiatives such as 24×7 Drink-From-Tap, integrated public transport through CRUT, last-mile e-mobility options like Odisha Yatri, digital delivery of municipal services via SUJOG, and the GARIMA framework aimed at ensuring dignity and safety for sanitation workers.
Expressing satisfaction with the State’s approach, the World Bank representatives noted Odisha’s focus on scale, inclusiveness, and tangible social impact. They also indicated interest in strengthening collaboration in areas including urban resilience, sanitation, affordable housing, governance reforms, and institutional capacity building.
The visit concluded with a shared understanding to advance joint efforts toward sustainable, efficient, and inclusive urban development across the State.
