BHUBANESWAR: Tenants, especially students and the urban poor, can breathe a sigh of relief as the housing and urban development department launches an innovative rental housing project across multiple urban centers in the state.
The project aims to provide quality accommodation for targeted beneficiaries, with affordable rent ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per month. Several rental housing complexes are currently being constructed in Odisha, with one already operational in Bhubaneswar.
According to official data, Bhubaneswar hosts three such projects: a 200-bed facility in Kharvel Nagar and two 100-bed facilities in Shampur and Chandrasekharpur. Additionally, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation is setting up two 100-bed facilities.
Berhampur is also seeing the development of two 100-bed facilities in New Gosaninuagaon and Bidyutpuri Colony, while Rourkela has two 100-bed complexes in Chhend and Udit Nagar.
Other cities like Sambalpur, Paradip, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Angul, and Dhenkanal will also feature rental housing complexes, with Sambalpur receiving two 100-bed facilities and the other cities getting two 50-bed houses each.
Gangadhar Nayak, director of the Odisha Urban Housing Mission, noted that these projects are being executed in partnership with the labor department. “The initial beneficiaries will include migrant laborers,” he mentioned.
The housing and urban development department has issued operational guidelines for these complexes to ensure smooth functioning. These guidelines outline the facilities available to occupants.
Per the guidelines, an operating authority will be appointed for each project, ensuring a 24/7 electricity supply with backup options, including potential solar power. Each complex will also provide a continuous drinking water supply via overhead tanks equipped with water filters. First-aid boxes will be available in the administrator’s room.
Regarding sanitation, the guidelines call for two daily cleanings by the operating authority: daily cleaning and mopping for rooms and bi-daily for toilets, kitchens, and common areas.
The complexes will offer amenities like ATM counters, cloakrooms with attendants, televisions with cable in the common room, and segregated arrangements for men and women during specific hours.
“Funds for the construction of these complexes have already been allocated,” confirmed an urban development department official.
