Building people-centred smart city

As the world marks World Cities Day 2025 Friday (October 31) with the theme “People-Centred Smart Cities,” Bhubaneswar aspires to stand out as a model where rapid urban growth, innovation, and tradition coexist through foresight and inclusivity. Experts stress sustainable, citizen-focused growth for a resilient Bhubaneswar.

- ARINDAM GANGULY, OP

Architect and infrastructure consultant Gautam Kumar Agrawal highlighted Bhubaneswar’s remarkable transformation over the past decade. “Bhubaneswar has grown many folds in the last ten years. This growth represents more than physical expansion—it’s a redefinition of the city’s identity, blending historical and cultural richness with a modern urban spirit,” he said.

Agrawal noted that Bhubaneswar’s real challenge lies in long-term planning, saying, “A city’s progress is measured not by its speed of growth, but by how well it plans for tomorrow,” he said.