Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on October 13 inaugurated two new affordable housing projects in Bhubaneswar. The two projects comprise 1,608 housing units valued at Rs. 161.48 crore that will provide housing to eligible urban poor families.
The inauguration was accompanied by the announcement of an affordable rental housing initiative under PMAY-Urban BANDHU. The Chief Minister also dedicated 12 playgrounds in Bhubaneswar and nearby areas as part of the event.
Two Housing Projects Cost Rs. 161.48 Crore
The two projects are Nilakantheswar Nibas in Ghatikia and Mukteswar Residency in Gadakana. Together, they comprise 1,608 units, with the total construction cost reported at Rs. 161.48 crore.
Nilakantheswar Nibas, spread across more than five acres in Ghatikia, has 928 housing units built at a cost of Rs. 66.48 crore. Mukteswar Residency in Gadakana covers more than six acres and comprises 680 units, constructed at a cost of around Rs. 95 crore.
The Chief Minister distributed house keys to the beneficiaries at the inauguration function. The number of units handed over during the event was not specified. These projects aim to provide eligible families with comfortable housing and better living standards.
Odisha Begins Work on Affordable Rental Housing
Alongside the two inaugurations, Majhi laid the foundation stone for an affordable rental housing project at Gadakana under PMAY-Urban BANDHU, a complementary state-level initiative.
Unlike the two inaugurated projects, the rental housing facility is at the foundation stage. It is intended to increase access to low-cost housing and especially for migrant workers and low-income families who may not be able to afford to buy a home.
The rental project is intended to provide affordable accommodation near workplaces for migrant workers and low-income families. It adds a rental-housing component to the state's wider efforts to improve access to affordable homes.
The Gadakana project adds a rental component to the state's housing efforts, alongside developments intended to provide permanent homes.
The announcement did not provide the details of the proposed number of units, construction cost, or completion time of the facility. These details will be important in evaluating the size of the initiative as the project moves forward.
Odisha Outlines Wider Housing Plans
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that more than two lakh houses have been sanctioned in the State under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). He added that the State government proposed to provide about five lakh houses to the people through the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana.
The two figures pertain to different housing schemes. The number of housing schemes sanctioned under these schemes should not be considered as the number of homes already delivered to the beneficiaries. Sanctions and targets indicate the scale of planned or approved housing support, rather than the number of units already occupied. Bhubaneswar has also seen earlier affordable-housing allotments, including homes provided to 116 families under the city's Affordable Housing Project initiatives.
The latest inaugurations add to the state's affordable housing activity in Bhubaneswar. The projects are intended to give eligible households access to formal housing, while the rental initiative seeks to address the accommodation needs of families for whom ownership may remain out of reach.
12 Playgrounds Opened in Bhubaneswar
The event also included the dedication of 12 playgrounds in the state capital and surrounding areas. The facilities are intended to support sports and recreational activities for local residents.
While the playgrounds are separate from the housing developments, their inauguration formed part of the same public event. The main housing announcement, however, remains the addition of 1,608 affordable units across Ghatikia and Gadakana, alongside the launch of work on a separate rental housing facility.
The next measure of progress will be the implementation of the rental project and the delivery of housing benefits to eligible families under the state's wider affordable housing programmes.
