Bhubaneswar: On Wednesday, the state government unveiled ANKUR, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering urban development throughout Odisha. During the launch, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department formalized partnerships with six prominent organizations involved in urban development, with Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra in attendance.

In his address, Mahapatra emphasized that ANKUR, which stands for Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms, symbolizes a unified commitment to creating cities that prioritize efficiency, intelligence, and citizen engagement. He described this initiative as a step towards a developed Odisha, collaboratively shaped by communities, institutions, and the government.

Principal Secretary of the department, Usha Padhee, elaborated that the inception of ANKUR was not a singular event but rather the culmination of numerous discussions and collaborations. She noted that the department recognized the need for innovative approaches and partnerships to address the rapid urbanization challenges in Odisha.

Padhee explained that over the past year, extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders helped to crystallize a vision for ANKUR. This platform aims to foster collaborative solutions, institutionalize innovation, and maintain partnerships that will support urban growth over the next decade. With projections indicating that Odisha's urban population could triple by 2036, ANKUR is designed to be a transformative platform for developing resilient, livable, and future-ready cities. She added that ANKUR aligns with the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047 while catering to Odisha's specific socio-economic and urban needs. The initiative will focus on four key areas of urban development: capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation.