Urban development minister advocates for enhanced manpower in urban local bodies

Urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra on Wednesday emphasised strengthening manpower across urban local bodies (ULBs), while reviewing the work of housing and urban development department.He instructed that each ULB must have at least one junior engineer or assistant engineer to ensure proper monitoring of projects and smooth delivery of basic urban services. “Citizens’ welfare is our foremost priority. We must ensure uninterrupted access to essential services while building sustainable and inclusive cities,” he added.During the review, Mohapatra directed officials to immediately take up the planned initiatives and ensure their completion within the stipulated time. He stressed timely execution and accountability to deliver tangible results on the ground.The minister spoke about planned city growth to meet the demands of rapid urbanisation, greener and cleaner urban spaces to promote healthy living and environmental balance, and robust service delivery mechanisms to improve the quality of life in cities and towns. He stressed that urban growth must be people-centric and aligned with the state’s broader development vision.