  We prove that the q-deformed unitary group, i.e., $U_q(N)$, is the universal
compact quantum group in the category of (compact) quantum groups which coact
on the q-deformed odd sphere $S_q^{2N-1}$ leaving the space spanned by the
natural set of generators invariant and preserving the unique $SU_q(N)$
invariant functional on $S_q^{2N-1}$. Using this, we identify $U_q(N)$ as the
quantum group of orientation preserving isometries (in the sense of Bhowmick
and Goswami \cite{MR2555012}) for a natural spectral triple associated with
$S_q^{2N-1}$ constructed by Chakraborty and Pal \cite{MR2458039}.
