Green building drive picks up pace

Bhubaneswar: The state’s green building movement is gaining pace, with officials noting that the state now has 285 IGBC-registered projects covering 57.57 million square feet across commercial, residential, industrial and net-zero segments.The figures were revealed at the third edition of the Green Odisha Conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry-Indian Green Building Council (CII-IGBC) here on Friday.The conclave brought together policymakers, urban planners and industry leaders to discuss sustainable growth strategies. According to IGBC data, the state’s green portfolio includes 236 commercial projects, 31 residential developments and a mix of industrial, logistics and transit infrastructure projects.Odisha State Pollution Control Board member secretary Manoj V Nair said the state’s rapid industrial expansion must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. “Sustainability must become integral to how we plan, design and operate our buildings and industries,” he said.Director of town planning Satrughna Kar stressed the need to integrate climate-resilient and resource-efficient approaches into urban planning.

“The cities we build today must be sustainable and inclusive for future generations,” he added.Experts at the conclave highlighted that the steady rise in certified green projects reflects increasing awareness among developers and industries, while calling for stronger policy support and wider adoption of low-carbon technologies to sustain the momentum.Manonjay Rath, chairman, IGBC Bhubaneswar, highlighted the growing momentum of the green building movement and emphasised the need for integrating sustainability into every aspect of infrastructure development.He noted that Odisha stands at a critical juncture where rapid urbanisation and industrial growth present an opportunity to create future-ready, resource-efficient and climate-resilient infrastructure.