Sambalpur: Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, for planned urban development of the city.The MoU signed under the guidance of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan aims to leverage SPA Delhi’s expertise in transforming Sambalpur into a model city.“This collaboration with India’s premier architecture institution will support us in designing the master plan and implementing various development projects,” said Collector (Sambalpur) S B Bondar. He said the initiative came following the Union education minister’s directive to develop Sambalpur as a planned city.According to SMC commissioner Vedbhusan, “This partnership marks a new chapter for Sambalpur. With SPA Delhi’s support, we aim to build a resilient and inclusive city for the future.”The agreement encompasses technical and academic support in crucial areas, including spatial planning, infrastructure design, heritage conservation, and sustainable urban practices. The collaboration will also feature capacity-building programmes, field studies, and workshops tailored to Sambalpur’s unique geographical and cultural context.