Bhubaneswar: As the state envisages the development of around 25,000 to 30,000 Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) dwelling units and nearly 5,000 rental units in multiple urban local bodies over the coming years, Odisha Urban Housing Mission has initiated the process to appoint consultancy firms for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) and providing technical support for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0.According to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by housing and urban development department, the state plans to select three consultancy firms that will assist in planning, designing and executing the AHP and Affordable Rental Housing projects across the state.More than 10 urban local bodies have already identified land parcels for the AHP projects, while additional locations are being explored. State capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur will have major shares of the central sector housing scheme, sources said.Officials said the consultants will be responsible for site assessments, feasibility studies, preparation of concept plans, architectural and structural designs, DPRs, cost estimates and tender documents. They will also assist urban local bodies in securing statutory approvals.“We have placed a strong emphasis on sustainable and climate-resilient housing. The consultants will be expected to integrate green building principles, rainwater harvesting systems, solar energy, resource-efficient construction technologies and disaster-resilient designs into the proposed housing projects,” an urban development official said.Notably, PMAY-U 2.0 aims to support construction, purchase and rental housing solutions for one crore urban poor and middle-class families across the country over five years. The state recently sought the Centre’s approval for the construction of 6,236 affordable houses under the PMAY-U 2.0. The proposal came at a time when Centre has already extended the deadline for the first leg of the scheme (PMAY-U) till Sept 2026.