Bhubaneswar, May 28: Odisha’s Housing & Urban Development Department has launched ANKUR (Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation & Reform), a key initiative aimed at promoting inclusive, sustainable, and innovative urban development.
MoUs were signed with six leading institutions to support ANKUR, which will focus on four pillars: capacity building, research, implementation support, and innovation.
Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra described ANKUR as a commitment to building smart, citizen-centric cities.
Principal Secretary Usha Padhee said the initiative was born from extensive consultations to address Odisha’s rapid urbanisation. With the state’s urban population expected to triple by 2036, ANKUR aims to create resilient, future-ready cities aligned with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’.
