In a landmark step toward urban transformation, the Government of Odisha has launched a visionary initiative titled ANKUR – Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms. Spearheaded by the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department, ANKUR is envisioned as a strategic platform to drive urban innovation, foster collaborative partnerships, and build smart, sustainable, and citizen-centric cities.
A Collaborative Framework for Urban Development
The launch event, held on Wednesday, witnessed the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with six leading organisations that play significant roles in the urban development ecosystem. The agreements were signed in the presence of Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, marking a new chapter in Odisha’s urban journey.
Mahapatra emphasized the transformational ambition behind ANKUR, describing it as “a collective promise to build cities that are efficient, smart, and above all, citizen-centric.” He added that ANKUR is “a movement toward a Viksit Odisha, co-authored by communities, institutions, and the government alike.”
Genesis of ANKUR: A Product of Reflection and Partnership
The Principal Secretary of the H&UD Department, Usha Padhee, offered insight into the development of the initiative. She shared that ANKUR was not the result of a singular moment of inspiration but was instead “born out of a growing realisation” that the pace and complexity of urbanisation in Odisha necessitated “new thinking, new partnerships, and new platforms.”
She highlighted how, over the past year, the department conducted internal consultations and engaged with urban experts, practitioners, and institutions from across India and abroad. Through these engagements, a clear vision for Odisha’s urban future began to emerge—one focused on co-creation, innovation, and institutional collaboration.
Rising Urban Population: A Challenge and Opportunity
With Odisha’s urban population projected to triple by 2036, the state faces both significant challenges and immense opportunities. ANKUR is thus designed as a transformative platform to respond proactively to these demographic shifts.
It aims to help cities become more:
- Resilient to climate and infrastructural stress
- Livable, with citizen well-being at the core
- Future-ready, in line with global urban standards
Alignment with National Vision: Viksit Bharat @2047
A key strength of ANKUR lies in its alignment with India’s national development goals, especially the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. While rooted in Odisha’s unique socio-economic and urban context, the initiative aspires to contribute to the broader national mission of creating equitable, inclusive, and developed urban spaces across the country.
Four Strategic Pillars of ANKUR
Principal Secretary Usha Padhee outlined the four strategic pillars that will guide the implementation of ANKUR:
1. Capacity Building
- Strengthening institutions and individuals within the urban development sector
- Conducting targeted training programs and leadership development initiatives
2. Knowledge and Research
- Facilitating the generation and exchange of urban knowledge
- Creating open-source urban data repositories, case studies, and policy briefs
3. Implementation Support
- Providing cities and municipalities with technical and strategic assistance
- Enabling the smooth rollout of reforms, infrastructure projects, and policies
4. Innovation
- Establishing urban innovation labs and hackathons
- Encouraging pilot projects that solve local urban challenges through scalable solutions
A Decade-Long Vision for Urban Growth
ANKUR is not a short-term scheme, but a decade-long institutional commitment. It will serve as a platform to sustain innovation, institutionalize reform, and build long-term partnerships with stakeholders at the national and international levels.
Its collaborative framework will enable government bodies, academic institutions, non-profits, urban think tanks, and private sector actors to co-create solutions for urban challenges.
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