The Odisha Urban Academy on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT-Bhubaneswar and social enterprise Development Alternatives to establish a centre of excellence dedicated to driving sustainable urban growth.
The tripartite pact was signed in the presence of Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Minister K C Mohapatra and the department’s Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee.
The joint initiative aims to foster research, drive innovation, build capacity, and encourage the adoption of eco-friendly sonstruction practices to support Odisha’s goal of developing cleaner, greener, and climate-resilient cities, according to the minister.
He noted that the state government is shifting its urban development focus beyond merely laying down physical infrastructure, aiming instead to improve the citizens’ quality of life through environmentally responsible planning, quality public infrastructure, and efficient civic services.
Hailing the new Centre of Excellence as a game-changing initiative, Mohapatra stated that the facility will serve as a knowledge and innovation hub to accelerate sustainable urban development across the state.
He further stated that the centre of excellence will progressively broaden its operational scope to tackle other urgent challenges, including urban air quality monitoring, solid waste management, water quality assessment and other sustainability-related interventions.
In its first major initiative, the centre of excellence is set to design a comprehensive roadmap for managing construction and demolition waste across the rapidly urbanising cluster comprising Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Jatni and Pipili.
This initial project will involve crafting an integrated construction and demolition waste management strategy, promoting technological innovations, strengthening institutional capabilities, and drafting a thorough project blueprint.
The framework developed through the pilot project is intended to serve as a scalable model for implementation across other urban centres in Odisha, an official statement said.
Under the provisions of the MoU, IIT-Bhubaneswar will anchor the partnership with research support, technical expertise and technological innovation while Development Alternatives will facilitate implementation and promote the adoption of sustainable construction technologies.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Urban Academy will take the lead on talent training, policy guidance, and sharing insights with municipal bodies and relevant industry players.
Speaking at the event, Padhee highlighted the importance of strong institutional collaboration in addressing emerging urban challenges.
She emphasized that integrating sustainable building techniques, scientific waste management, and evidence-backed planning into the state’s urban policy framework is essential for designing resilient, resource-smart, and environmentally balanced cities.
