CM Majhi hands over affordable homes in Bhubaneswar on Navratri
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Navratri handed keys of pucca homes to families under two PMAY projects in Bhubaneswar, laid the foundation for PMAY-Urban BANDHU rental housing for migrants, and dedicated 12 new playgrounds to the city's residents.
Key Takeaways
Two housing projects inaugurated : 'Mukteswar Residency' at Gadakana and 'Nilakantheswar Nibas' at Ghatikia, delivering pucca homes to economically weaker and middle-income families in Bhubaneswar.
PMAY-Urban BANDHU foundation laid : A new rental housing project for migrant workers and low-income households was launched under the central government's urban housing mission.
Home loans facilitated on-site for beneficiary families, addressing a key affordability barrier.
12 modern playgrounds dedicated to Bhubaneswar citizens, targeting children, youth, and senior residents' well-being.
All housing units include drinking water, electricity, and sanitation , meeting PMAY's basic amenity standards.
The events occurred on Navratri, October 13, 2026 , with CM Majhi framing the rollout as part of Odisha's commitment to an inclusive urban Bhubaneswar.
On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi handed over keys of pucca homes to hundreds of economically weaker and middle-income families in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 — turning a festival day into a milestone for urban housing in the state capital.
Two affordable residential projects were inaugurated: 'Mukteswar Residency' at Gadakana and 'Nilakantheswar Nibas' at Ghatikia. Each unit comes equipped with piped drinking water, electricity, and sanitation — amenities CM Majhi called the foundation of a 'dignified life' for every section of society.
PMAY-Urban BANDHU: rental housing gets its foundation stone
Beyond ownership housing, the event also marked the foundation-laying for a rental housing project under PMAY-Urban BANDHU — the central government's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) component specifically designed for migrant workers and low-income urban households. Home loans were facilitated for beneficiaries on the spot, removing a critical barrier between aspiration and a registered address.
PMAY-Urban, launched by the central government in 2015, targets urban economically weaker sections through multiple tracks: in-situ slum rehabilitation, credit-linked subsidies, affordable housing partnerships, and — through the BANDHU rental vertical — managed rental stock for those who cannot afford ownership. Odisha, under CM Majhi since June 2024, has been accelerating state-level rollout of these components in Bhubaneswar, a designated Smart City.
12 new playgrounds for Bhubaneswar's children, youth, and seniors
The day's announcements did not stop at housing. 12 new modern playgrounds were dedicated to the citizens of Bhubaneswar, with CM Majhi citing the physical and mental well-being of shishu, yuba pidhi o barishtha nagarikmane (children, youth, and senior citizens) as the explicit rationale. The move aligns with integrated urban liveability frameworks under the Smart City Mission and AMRUT, where recreational infrastructure is treated as inseparable from housing and sanitation in building liveable cities.
The vision: a safe, healthy, and inclusive Bhubaneswar
Posting in both Odia and English on X, CM Majhi framed the day's events as part of a consistent commitment: ensuring every segment of urban society — from migrant labourers to senior residents — has access to a secure roof, clean water, power, and sanitation. 'These steps will lay a firm foundation towards building Bhubaneswar as a safe, healthy and inclusive city,' he said.
The phased handover of units under PMAY-Urban BANDHU rental housing and the maintenance of the 12 playgrounds across Bhubaneswar wards will be the next benchmarks to watch. A key question now: whether the rental housing stock scales fast enough to keep pace with the city's growing migrant workforce.
Point of View
Linking a welfare delivery moment to cultural resonance. For CM Majhi, elected in June 2024, these visible urban deliverables serve as proof-of-governance at the midpoint before attention turns to the next electoral cycle. The addition of 12 playgrounds, modest in isolation, reflects a broader Smart City logic: that liveability metrics beyond shelter — recreation, safety, green space — are increasingly part of the BJP's urban welfare pitch.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mukteswar Residency in Bhubaneswar?
Mukteswar Residency is an affordable residential housing project located at Gadakana in Bhubaneswar, inaugurated by Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi on October 13, 2026, under the PMAY-Urban scheme to provide pucca homes to economically weaker and middle-income families.
What is PMAY-Urban BANDHU?
PMAY-Urban BANDHU is a rental housing component under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) mission, designed specifically for migrant workers and low-income urban households who cannot afford to buy homes. Its foundation stone was laid in Bhubaneswar on October 13, 2026.
How many playgrounds were inaugurated in Bhubaneswar by CM Majhi?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi dedicated 12 new modern playgrounds to the citizens of Bhubaneswar on October 13, 2026, aimed at improving the physical and mental well-being of children, youth, and senior citizens.
What is PMAY-Urban and when was it launched?
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), or PMAY-Urban, is a central government housing mission launched in 2015. It aims to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to urban economically weaker sections and low-income groups through multiple delivery tracks including ownership, subsidy, and rental housing.
Who is Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the BJP leader who became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024. He has been overseeing the state-level rollout of central welfare schemes including PMAY-Urban in Bhubaneswar and other urban centres.
