BHUBANESWAR: Urban services need to become simpler, faster and more responsive to citizens, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department,Usha Padhee said, outlining the objective behind the state government’s Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (ANKUR).
“ANKUR is about connecting the needs of our cities with the right knowledge, expertise and solutions. By strengthening the capacity of Urban Local Bodies and enabling innovation, our objective is to make urban services simpler, faster and more responsive to citizens,” Padhee said.
Launched on May 28, 2025, and inspired by the vision of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, ANKUR is a collaborative platform that brings Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), knowledge institutions, technical experts, development organisations and innovation partners together to address urban challenges.
It enables ULBs to identify problems, access specialised knowledge and technology, test new approaches and scale successful solutions across cities. The platform supports existing urban programmes by bringing knowledge and innovation into their implementation rather than functioning as a standalone scheme.
The expertise available through ANKUR covers areas required for urban planning and governance, including municipal finance, land management, environmental engineering and digital systems.
The platform is supporting interventions in digital governance, environmental management, regulatory reforms, capacity building, sanitation, livelihoods and citizen outreach. Digital initiatives such as SUJOG are strengthening municipal service delivery across 115 cities, while data-driven interventions are helping identify and resolve local urban issues.
Under the Dispersed Sources Programme, 2,604 localised pollution-related issues were identified in Bhubaneswar, of which 1,225 have been resolved. The programme has set a target of resolving 80 per cent of the identified issues by October 2026.
The focus on institutional capacity is also reflected in training initiatives, through which more than 1,150 government officials have been trained. Knowledge-led reforms are contributing to the simplification of building construction, land subdivision and land-use regulations, facilitating planned development and more efficient utilisation of urban land.
The platform is also supporting initiatives aimed at improving the safety and dignity of sanitation workers through mechanisation, safety equipment and training. The Lighthouse Programme is connecting youth with skills and employment opportunities, while SAHAJOG and SAHAJOG Plus are helping urban families access government schemes and essential services.
ANKUR is also being used to test and demonstrate solutions for emerging urban challenges, including the reuse of low-value plastic waste and improved Construction and Demolition Waste management. Successful approaches can subsequently be adapted and replicated across ULBs.
