In a move to address the challenges of unplanned urbanization and provide basic amenities and infrastructure in rapidly growing rural areas adjacent to cities, the Odisha government has approved the implementation of the ‘Odisha Rural-Urban Transition Policy.’ The policy, which aims to introduce progressive measures, has received the approval of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Currently, 19% of Odisha’s population resides in urban areas, and it is projected to reach 21% by 2031. The growth of census towns or peri-urban areas accounts for nearly 40% of the state’s urbanization.
The existing system of abruptly declaring rural areas as urban areas has resulted in sudden changes in the political and administrative setup, affecting the socio-economic conditions of citizens. To address this issue, the government acknowledges that peri-urban and ‘rurban’ areas face challenges in accessing social infrastructure and civic amenities, even after being declared urban areas. This situation arises due to the lack of a comprehensive policy and robust institutions to manage unplanned urbanization.
Under the Rural-Urban Transition Policy, rural areas will be identified and declared urban areas, with the effective date being after the tenure of the existing elected representatives expires. During the interim period, the identified rural areas will undergo infrastructure development and receive all urban services comparable to adjacent urban areas. Ward delimitation and other administrative measures will also be implemented to ensure that the area functions as a fully-fledged urban area with the required infrastructure and services from the effective date.
This policy marks a significant shift from the previous system and demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing urban civic amenities to people in rural areas before their formal notification as urban areas. By focusing on the development of fast-growing rural areas, the Odisha government aims to create balanced and sustainable growth while improving the living conditions of its citizens.
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