A high-level delegation from the Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (RUIDP), Jaipur, lauded Odisha’s innovative urban development initiatives after undertaking a study tour of the state under an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported Exposure Visit programme.
The nine-member delegation visited Bhubaneswar and Puri to gain first-hand insights into Odisha’s acclaimed urban governance framework, water supply systems, sanitation management practices and citizen-centric service delivery models. During the visit, the team toured several landmark urban infrastructure projects and interacted with senior officials to understand the strategies driving Odisha’s urban transformation.
A key highlight of the visit was an interaction with Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee at the Odisha Urban Academy. Addressing the delegation, Padhee outlined Odisha’s remarkable urban development journey and showcased several pioneering initiatives that have earned national recognition.
She noted that Odisha has emerged as a leading state in urban governance through sustained investments in infrastructure, innovation and public service delivery. The state’s flagship ‘Drink from Tap’ initiative, which ensures round-the-clock access to safe drinking water, has become a benchmark for urban water management and is being widely regarded as a model for replication across the country.
Padhee also highlighted Odisha’s achievements in urban sanitation, scientific waste management, integrated city planning, modern public transportation, technology-enabled governance and sustainable infrastructure development. She emphasized that the state’s development approach places citizens at the centre of policy planning and implementation.
Impressed by Odisha’s achievements, members of the Rajasthan delegation praised the state’s efficient service delivery systems, innovative governance practices and successful execution of urban development projects. They expressed keen interest in adopting several of Odisha’s best practices, particularly in the areas of water supply, sanitation and citizen-focused urban services, in Rajasthan.
Officials described the exposure visit as a significant step towards fostering inter-state collaboration, knowledge sharing and mutual learning in urban development and municipal governance.
The programme was attended by Odisha Urban Academy Director and Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Secretary Subhendu Kumar Sahu, along with senior officials of the department and the academy.
The Rajasthan delegation comprised Mohan Lal Saini, Additional Chief Engineer (Jaipur Zone); Mukesh Kumar Meena and Khemraj Meena, Superintending Engineers (PMU, Jaipur); Satyanarayan Verma and Amit Verma, Executive Engineers; Anil Patidar and Ashok Kumar Bansiwal, Assistant Engineers; and Sanju Poonia and Kush Kumar, Junior Engineers.