Bhubaneswar, December 9: Senior IAS officer and Housing and Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee on Monday assumed the additional charge of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) Chairperson.

After taking over, Padhee held a detailed and meaningful discussion with senior officers and staff of IDCO. The interaction focused on the organisation’s ongoing initiatives, key priorities, and the roadmap for further strengthening industrial infrastructure across Odisha.

During the meeting, Padhee emphasised the importance of timely project execution, transparency, inter-departmental coordination, and efficient investor facilitation.

The top bureaucrat underlined IDCO’s pivotal role in enabling industrial growth through land development, infrastructure creation, and facilitation of investments across the State.

Padhee also highlighted that industrial infrastructure development must go hand-in-hand with planned urban growth. She emphasised the importance of creating well-planned industrial townships with supporting civic amenities, mobility, and sustainable infrastructure, ensuring balanced and integrated regional development.

She appreciated the efforts of the IDCO team and encouraged them to work with renewed commitment, professionalism, and a collaborative approach to support Odisha’s vision for accelerated industrial development and inclusive economic growth.

Last month, three IAS officers of the 1996 batch - Saswata Mishra, Vishal Kumar Dev and Usha Padhee - have been elevated to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary.

On February 5, the State Government effected a major reshuffle of 20 senior IAS officers, including Padhee. She was given additional charge as IDCO Chairperson. N B S Rajput, Principal Secretary, Public Enterprises, was appointed Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, a post that Padhee was holding as additional charge.