Bhubaneswar, March 20: In a significant step towards strengthening urban utility infrastructure and promoting clean energy adoption, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department has initiated the process for framing a comprehensive City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy.
A high-level consultative meeting in this regard was held today at Kharabela Bhawan under the chairpersonship of H&UD Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee in collaboration with GAIL (India) Limited & IOCL. The meeting deliberated on a strategic roadmap for the expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) across the State, with a focus on building a future-ready and citizen-centric policy framework aligned with the State’s long-term development goals.
Padhee emphasised the need for an aspirational yet practical policy architecture to support the rapid expansion of city gas distribution networks across urban Odisha. She highlighted that the proposed policy would play a pivotal role in enhancing access to clean, efficient and reliable energy, while contributing to sustainable urban development and improved service delivery.
She further reiterated that the State is committed to designing a futuristic policy in the best interest of the public and the State, which will simplify processes, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and significantly enhance the ease of living for citizens across urban centres.
The deliberations focused on key components of the proposed policy, including streamlining of permissions, rationalisation of licence fees, introduction of single-window clearance systems, and operationalisation of deemed approval mechanisms. Discussions also covered adoption frameworks, institutional coordination, and service delivery systems to ensure seamless implementation.
The initiative is being undertaken in close coordination with leading energy stakeholders such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited and GAIL, with the objective of leveraging technical expertise and ensuring efficient execution of city gas infrastructure projects across the State.
The proposed CGD policy is expected to facilitate faster rollout of PNG infrastructure, strengthen coordination between stakeholders, and position Odisha as a frontrunner in adopting clean and sustainable urban energy solutions.
Among others, Arindam Dakua, Director, Municipal Administration; Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Commissioner, CMC; senior representatives from IOCL and GAIL; along with officers from IDCO and the Housing & Urban Development Department, including Nihar Ranjan Behera, CGM, IDCO; Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner, BMC; and Suvendu Kumar Sahoo, Additional Secretary, H&UD, were present at the meeting held in the 3rd Floor Conference Hall of Kharabela Bhawan.
The collective inputs and expertise shared during the session are expected to shape a comprehensive, implementable, and forward-looking policy, aligned with Odisha’s vision for a greener, more efficient, and future-ready urban land.
