Odisha Begins Work on Sustainable Urban Mobility Transition Plans for BKPPER Region

Odisha Begins Work on Sustainable Urban Mobility Transition Plans for BKPPER Region

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): The Odisha government has initiated work on a comprehensive sustainable urban mobility framework for the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region (BKPPER), with a focus on integrated regional transport planning, public bus transformation and stronger institutional mechanisms.

An inception workshop on the “Preparation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Transition Plans for Odisha” was held at Kharavela Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday by the Housing and Urban Development Department in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Focus on Integrated Regional Mobility

The initiative seeks to prepare a long-term mobility framework for the rapidly urbanising BKPPER region. Key components include a Comprehensive Regional Mobility Plan, a roadmap for transforming bus services and a draft Transit-Oriented Development Policy for Odisha.

During the workshop, the ADB and its consultant team presented key findings and recommendations from the inception report. Officials and stakeholders from various departments discussed the proposed mobility measures and their implementation.

The initiative is aligned with the long-term objectives of Odisha Vision 2036 and Vision 2047.

Mobility Linked to Access and Productivity

Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee stressed that the exercise should result in an implementable framework rather than remain limited to the preparation of a policy document.

She highlighted the importance of mobility in connecting people with essential services, employment and economic opportunities, and called for coordinated planning as Odisha enters a significant phase of urbanisation.

“Odisha is in a position where we can put the right systems in place as we move towards the next level of urbanisation,” Padhee said, underlining the need to incorporate sustainable mobility principles at an early stage.

ADB Transport Sector Office Director Kanzo Nakai also highlighted the relationship between urban mobility, productivity and economic development. Referring to an ADB study of six major metropolitan cities, he noted that lengthy daily commutes can result in substantial productivity losses.

Officials, Stakeholders Participate

Transport Commissioner Amitav Thakur, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, CRUT Managing Director Md. Siddique Alam, IDCO Managing Director D. Prasant Reddy and BDA Vice-Chairman Chanchal Rana were among the officials attending the workshop.

Representatives from the Works Department, OSRTC, police, IDCO and other agencies, along with officials from Cuttack, Puri, Khordha and Jagatsinghpur districts, also participated.

From the ADB and consultant team, Senior Transport Advisor Saugata Dasgupta, consultants Bankim Kalra and Zohra Mutabanna, Ankush Malhotra and Pritha Ghosh Chatterjee of SYSTRA, among others, took part in the deliberations.

The discussions are expected to feed into an integrated mobility transition framework aimed at improving connectivity, public transport, efficiency and inclusiveness across Odisha, with the BKPPER region serving as a key focus area.