Bhubaneswar’s eligibility for central housing support under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) has hit a roadblock due to administrative delays at the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). Nearly a year after directives from the housing and urban development department, the BDA has yet to submit a certified list of revenue villages required for inclusion in the PMAY-U 2.0 portal, prompting renewed instructions to prioritise the matter immediately. The delay threatens access to affordable housing for thousands residing in the city’s fringe areas.
The BDA was first instructed on February 28, 2025, to provide the list in a prescribed format signed by the vice-chairman. Officials in the urban development department emphasised that timely submission is crucial, as it determines Bhubaneswar’s eligibility for fresh housing project approvals under the central scheme. With the portal still lacking certified data, Bhubaneswar has been excluded from the recent list of ULBs granted new project sanctions. Urban planners and real estate experts say the setback illustrates a growing disconnect between city administration and central housing initiatives. “PMAY-U 2.0 is a decade-long programme aimed at accelerating urban housing equity,” said a senior urban development consultant. “Delays like this not only impede policy implementation but also leave vulnerable households without timely access to subsidised housing.”
The implications extend beyond residents. Analysts point out that PMAY-U 2.0 projects typically catalyse local construction activity, generate employment, and encourage sustainable urban densification. Bhubaneswar missing out on allocations can therefore affect broader urban growth patterns, especially in rapidly expanding peripheral zones. BDA officials noted that once the draft list is prepared, it will undergo scrutiny at the estate level before formal submission to the state government. In the meantime, other urban local bodies (ULBs) across Odisha have moved forward with new housing proposals, highlighting Bhubaneswar’s administrative lag. Real estate professionals stressed that the delay could also limit the city’s ability to leverage central funds efficiently, potentially pushing back project timelines for thousands of dwellings.
Recent approvals under the Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM) illustrate the urgency. On Friday, 75 new housing projects covering 72 ULBs were sanctioned under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) vertical of PMAY-U 2.0, enabling construction of 6,871 units. The contrast underscores how procedural gaps at BDA may translate into tangible delays in affordable housing delivery. Urban development authorities and planners now face pressure to expedite village certification and align Bhubaneswar’s approvals with the central scheme to ensure equitable access to housing, support local construction activity, and maintain the city’s urban growth trajectory.
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