Bhubaneswar: A nine-member delegation from the Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (RUIDP), Jaipur, commended Odisha’s accomplishments in urban service delivery during their visit to Bhubaneswar and Puri. This visit was part of an exposure programme supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aimed at studying the state’s exemplary practices in water supply, sanitation, and urban governance.

During their time in Odisha, the delegation inspected major urban infrastructure projects in Bhubaneswar and Puri, and engaged with officials from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to gain direct insights into the state’s urban governance, sanitation systems, service delivery mechanisms, and citizen-centric initiatives.

A significant aspect of the programme was an interactive session at the Odisha Urban Academy with Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development department. Padhee provided a detailed overview of the state’s urban transformation journey and highlighted numerous innovative initiatives that have positioned Odisha as a national leader in urban reforms.

She discussed the flagship 24×7 ‘Drink from Tap’ Mission, which has set a standard in urban water supply management by ensuring safe, equitable, and uninterrupted access to quality drinking water for residents. Padhee also detailed Odisha’s successes in sanitation and waste management, integrated urban planning, modernization of public transport, technology-driven governance, and sustainable urban infrastructure development.