The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department of Odisha has initiated the process to frame a comprehensive City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy, aiming to strengthen urban utility infrastructure and accelerate clean energy adoption across the state.
High-Level Consultative Meeting
A strategic meeting was held at Kharabela Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Smt. Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD & Chairperson IDCO, in collaboration with GAIL (India) Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The session focused on building a roadmap for the expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) networks across urban Odisha.
Smt. Padhee emphasized the need for a practical yet aspirational policy to enhance access to clean, efficient, and reliable energy. She noted that the initiative would contribute to sustainable urban development while improving service delivery and citizen convenience.
Key Policy Components
Deliberations highlighted several critical elements of the proposed CGD policy:
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Streamlining permissions and licence procedures
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Rationalization of licence fees
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Introduction of single-window clearance systems
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Operationalisation of deemed approval mechanisms
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Institutional coordination and adoption frameworks
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Enhanced service delivery systems for seamless implementation
The policy aims to simplify processes, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and significantly improve the ease of living for citizens in urban centres.
Collaboration with Energy Stakeholders
The initiative is being developed in close consultation with key energy stakeholders, including IOCL and GAIL, leveraging technical expertise for efficient execution of city gas projects.
Officials present at the meeting included Arindam Dakua, Director, Municipal Administration; Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Commissioner, CMC; along with senior representatives from IOCL, GAIL, IDCO, and the H&UD Department, including Shri Nihar Ranjan Behera, CGM, IDCO; Shri Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner, BMC; and Shri Suvendu Kumar Sahoo, Additional Secretary, H&UD.
Vision for a Future-Ready Urban Odisha
The collective inputs from the consultative session will help shape a forward-looking, implementable CGD policy aligned with Odisha’s vision for a greener, more efficient urban landscape. The initiative is expected to strengthen coordination among stakeholders, facilitate faster PNG infrastructure rollout, and position Odisha as a leader in adopting sustainable urban energy solutions.