The Odisha government will develop rental housing within projects designated for economically weaker section households across urban centres to curb the growth of slums. The initiative will be implemented statewide under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0), the Housing and Urban Development minister, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, said. The programme aims to expand affordable rental stock for households unable to secure permanent homes in cities. The draft Urban Area Rent Control Act, 2026 has been prepared to encourage the development of rental housing while protecting landlords and tenants from exploitation, according to officials. The proposed legislation has been framed to ensure the availability of affordable rental accommodation and to provide a regulatory framework for rental tenures in urban areas. As part of the scheme, suitable vacant buildings and structures will be identified and brought under a rental housing framework. Rapid migration to Bhubaneswar and other major urban centres, combined with difficulties in finding suitable rented accommodation, has contributed to the expansion of slums, with the state capital alone containing nearly 450 slums. The minister said that the rent control law, together with the rental housing component under PMAY-U 2.0, is expected to offer relief to residents of informal settlements and to help check further slum growth. The authorities plan to roll out rental housing projects across all urban areas to meet growing demand for affordable accommodation. The state government last month announced the A Roof for All initiative to provide housing coverage to 80 per cent of the urban population by 2036 through a structured three-tier approach for economically weaker sections, low-income groups and a dedicated rental model for migrant and floating populations. The programme will be launched initially in Rourkela and later expanded to other cities in phases. District collectors have been directed to identify and allocate suitable land on priority to expedite implementation so projects can commence without delay.