The meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cleared a Rs 166.9 crore proposal for drinking water supply in Puri town. The projects included Rs 68.33 crore and Rs 71.82 crore for rainwater drainage in Bhubaneswar and Puri respectively.

Besides, for running bus services Rs 16.5 crore and Rs 3.3 crore have been proposed for Bhubaneswar and Puri respectively. The projects included development of slums at Gadhakana area in the capital city at a cost of Rs 7.46 crore.

While 50 standard and mini buses will be provided for Bhubaneswar, five standard and 20 mini buses will be pressed into service in Puri. Water from the Bhargavi river will be used for providing drinking water to Puri town.

Similarly, nine rainwater channels will be constructed in Bhubaneswar. Five drainage zone nullahs will be constructed in Puri.

A four-storey apartment having 192 dwelling units will be constructed in Gadhakan area as per the proposal. Other projects discussed included introduction of e-governance in all the urban bodies in phases, construction of houses for economically backward families and development of slum areas under the public-private partnership mode.

Among others, BJD MPs from Puri and Bhubaneswar, Pinaki Mishra and Prasanna Patsani, all the three MLAs from the capital city and senior officials attended the meeting.