Bhubaneswar, April 2: In a significant stride toward accelerating Odisha’s urban transformation, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department has recorded highest-ever development expenditure in the last five years, reaching ₹8575.61 crore as of March 31, 2026.
This marks a steady and encouraging rise from ₹6,996.92 crore in 2022–23, underscoring a sustained commitment to strengthening urban infrastructure and civic services across the state.
The Department has demonstrated marked improvement in financial efficiency, achieving an overall utilization rate of 86.50%, a significant increase from 73.47% in the previous fiscal year.
A key driver of this performance has been the remarkable progress under State Sector Schemes. Expenditure under these schemes has risen sharply from ₹2,676.15 crore in 2022–23 to ₹4,285.45 crore in the current fiscal, with an impressive utilization rate of 98.18%, compared to 82.92% last year.
The Department has also sustained exemplary performance in devolving funds to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). State Finance Commission transfers have achieved near-total utilization of 99.70% for the fourth consecutive year, amounting to ₹1,489.51 crore.
In Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the Department has demonstrated a strong recovery, with expenditure rising to ₹1144 crore from ₹595.95 crore in the previous year.
Looking ahead, the H&UD Department is poised for an even more ambitious phase, with a Budget Estimate of ₹10,726.87 crore for 2026–27—the highest in the past five years.
