In a major administrative reform aimed at speeding up urban services, the Odisha government has announced that applications for house construction plan approvals submitted through the SUJOG platform will now have to be cleared within seven days.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the decision was taken after a departmental review that found applicants were often forced to wait for months for approval of building plans. The new rule is intended to bring greater accountability, reduce red tape and ensure faster delivery of public services.
Under the revised system, any official who fails to process a file within the stipulated period will face a penalty of Rs 250 per day. The minister said that once the seven-day window expires, the pending file will automatically be transferred to another officer for further action so that the approval process does not remain stalled.
Mahapatra said the department had conducted a detailed assessment to identify the reasons behind long delays in plan clearances. The review reportedly pointed to procedural bottlenecks and administrative inefficiencies that often left applicants waiting far beyond the expected timeline.
The minister stated that the new mechanism is expected to bring transparency to the approval process and offer relief to thousands of applicants, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where construction activities often get delayed due to pending permissions.
Odisha Targets Housing Expansion by 2036
Alongside the new approval timeline, the state government has also laid out an ambitious long-term housing roadmap. Odisha has set a target of providing housing support to 80 per cent of the population by 2036.
According to the minister, district collectors across the state have already been instructed to identify and allot suitable land for upcoming housing projects. Once land is allocated, construction will begin immediately so that houses can be handed over to beneficiaries without delay under various state housing schemes.
The government’s affordable housing initiative will include multiple categories of homes, including economically weaker section (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) models. Officials believe this will significantly improve access to housing for lower and middle-income families across Odisha.
Urban Development Push Across 49 Towns
The announcement also comes as part of a broader urban transformation strategy. Mahapatra said land development in urban areas will be taken up through Town Planning (TP) schemes based on local requirements.
Under the Chief Minister Smart City Scheme, 49 towns will be covered in the first phase. Major infrastructure works planned under the programme include road development, drinking water supply, sewerage networks and urban beautification projects.
The minister added that the government is not only focusing on physical infrastructure but also on improving livelihoods and strengthening urban economic growth.
The new seven-day deadline for house plan approvals is being seen as a significant step toward improving governance efficiency and boosting confidence among citizens seeking timely civic services.
