Popularly known as Ispat Nagar, Rourkela, has been making headlines with its numerous achievements: making it to the top 15 in the Global Mayors’ Challenge, winner of the Milan Pact Award and among the Top 11 cities in the Nurturing Neighbourhood Challenge by the Ministry of Housing, to name a few. Indeed, the city has maintained its track record of successful ongoing projects. Dr Subhankar Mohapatra, CEO, shares more….

Tell us about Rourkela smart city’s achievements in transforming the city using smart technology.
Rourkela One is a city hub project with three major buildings. This includes a building for the integrated command-and-control centre (ICCC), office spaces, a tribal museum and a hockey hall of fame as the city is in Sundargarh district, which has the distinction of providing many players for the Indian hockey team. Rourkela will be co-hosting the Hockey World Cup in 2023 with Bhubaneshwar. We are also developing a state-of-the-art auditorium and convention centre. The other big-ticket project is the Birsa Munda sports complex, which will comprise an athletic track, a FIFA-certified football field and a sophisticated swimming pool. This stadium is a Rs 1.3-1.5 billion project.

In addition, we are developing smart roads with underground utilities and ducting in the ABD area which is near completion. With climate change looming large, we have also taken up a huge network of stormwater management.

An important part of a smart city is to preserve its culture and heritage. A religious area in the city, Vedvyas, is being developed as a heritage precinct. It is also a local Triveni Sangam, a confluence point of three rivers.

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