Page 3 - Odisha Government

Odisha to set up greenfield airport at Paradip, heliports in 14 districts

In a bid to strengthen aviation infrastructure in the state, the Odisha government has decided to establish a Greenfield airport at the port town of Paradip, expedite the development of the Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri and construct heliports in 14 districts. These decisions were taken during an Aviation and Network Construction Management' meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here on Thursday. In addition to discussions on expediting the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport (SJIA) in Puri and the upgrade of Rourkela Airport, the meeting resolved to proceed with the establishment of a Greenfield airport at Paradip, according to an official release issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The meeting also focused on the development of key regional airports across the state, including those at Jeypore, Dand Bose, Rangeilunda, Gautama, Satibhata, Raisuan, Tushara, Jamadarpali, Malkangiri, Amarda Road, and Utkela, aiming to enhance regional

Odisha CM announces ₹20 lakh, job for wife of tourist killed in J-K attack

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced Rs 20 lakh financial assistance for the family of Prashant Satpathy, who was killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Majhi made the announcement after paying floral tributes to the mortal remains of Satpathy at his house in Ishani village in the Remuna block of Balasore district. He also announced that the state government would provide a job for Satpathy's wife Priya Darshani Achariya, and take care of the education of their nine-year-old son Tanuj. "I strongly condemn the incident, and the state government solidly stands with the family of Prashant Satpathy at this hour of crisis. The state will provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakhs, a job for his wife and take care of his son's education," the CM told reporters. Majhi also expressed concern over the health of Priya Darshani, who fainted while talking to him.

Naveen Patnaik files nomination paper for BJD president's post for 9th time

Leader of the Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the post of BJD president at Sankha Bhawan here. He was the sole candidate for the post. Patnaik has been elected as BJD president eight times in a row since the party's inception in 1997. He was last elected to the position in February 2020. Patnaik filed his nomination papers on the 28th death anniversary of his father Biju Patnaik, after whom the regional partyBiju Janata Dalis named. Without directly naming the BJP, Patnaik said, "Now some people are making deliberate attempts to demean the contribution and sacrifice of our great sons. Attempts are also being made to change the history. But they should remember that history reflects the connecting experience of a nation over a period of time. It cannot be changed at anybody's wishes." After filing the papers, Patnaik said the BJD government from 2000 to 2024 had achieved significant development for Odisha and brought ...

Odisha govt to install over 21K tubewells to tackle water crisis: Minister

The Odisha government has decided to install 21,300 new tube wells across the state to tackle the water crisis during summer, Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said. The decision is part of a broader strategy to ensure reliable access to water for all, he said. The state already has 5.2 lakh tube wells, and the new ones will be installed in places that face a crisis, he added. "No community will be left without drinking water access," Naik said on Friday. He said drinking water-related complaints will be resolved within seven days. Naik, who is also the panchayati raj minister, said the government has decided to allot 1.60 lakh new houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana this year. Priority will be given to differently-abled individuals, destitutes, and victims of natural calamities like floods and cyclones, he said. The work orders for the construction of some houses have already been issued, while the remaining are in process, he said.

Odisha govt to fill up 12,000 vacancies in police department, says CM

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday announced that his government would fill over 12,000 vacant posts in the police department. Majhi made the announcement after returning from New Delhi, where he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, besides hosting a two-day investors' conclave. He said that at the meeting with Shah, the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) in the state was discussed. Rising number of cases of cyber crime was also discussed in the meeting, he said, adding that he told Shah that the state was planning to set up 20 cyber police stations, and create the post of Crime Scene Officer in every police station. Majhi said the home minister assured the state government of all support for maintaining law and order and the justice delivery system. He said the state government will soon fill up the 12,000 vacancies in the Home Department, which will help maintain the law and o

Odisha govt allocates land to Inox Solar for solar cell manufacturing plant

INOXGFL Group on Tuesday said the Odisha government has allocated Inox Solar a land parcel to set up a cell module manufacturing plant in the state. The proposed 4.8-gigawatt (GW) solar cell and 4.8 GW solar module manufacturing plant will support India's renewable energy goals and bolster Odisha's industrial growth, INOXGFL Group said in a statement. Inox Solar, a subsidiary of Inox Clean, today announced the land allocation for a solar cell and solar module manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, by the Odisha government, it said. Inox Clean is part of the INOXGFL Group. Earlier this year, INOXGFL Group had announced a Rs 4,000-crore investment through Inox Solar to establish a state-of-the-art solar cell and solar module manufacturing unit in Odisha. The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA)-approved project is expected to generate over 3,400 jobs, thereby driving investment, creating employment opportunities, and supporting Odisha's long-term economic development. Industry sources

Murmu, PM Modi extend greetings as Odisha celebrates state's formation day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday India takes pride in Odisha's history, literature and music, as he greeted people on the state's formation day. He said on X, "Warm wishes on Utkala Dibasa! This day is a fitting tribute to Odisha's glorious culture. India takes pride in Odisha's history, literature and music." Praising the people of Odisha as hardworking, he said the Centre and the Odisha government have worked extensively over the last year to further the state's progress. The people of the state have excelled in diverse fields, he said. Utkala Dibasa is celebrated on April 1 every year to commemorate the formation of the state in 1936, carved out from the Bengal province.

Three killed in clash over suspected witchcraft in Odisha's Ganjam

At least three persons were killed and three others seriously injured in the clash between two groups over suspected witchcraft practice in Odisha's Ganjam district on Tuesday, police said. The clash took place at Kharipalli village under. The clash broke out due to the suspected witchcraft in the village, police said. The deceased were identified as Khadal Behera (70), his son Ratnakar Behera (35) and Ramesh Behera (40), they said. The injured persons were first admitted to Dharakote hospital and later referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. Their condition was stated to be serious, hospital sources said Senior police officers along with additional forces have rushed to the spot. "Though the situation in the village was tense, but under control after the arrival of the police forces," said SP (Ganjam) Subhendu Kumar Patra. Forces along with police officers were camping in the village, the SP said. Though the exact reason for the incident was not known immediately, ..

Odisha disbursed Rs 5,024 cr to 10 mn women on Women's Day: Dy CM Pravati

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also criticised the opposition, and questioned what work had they done to empower the women

Odisha residents can now access over 400 govt services on WhatsApp

People in Odisha will now be able to access over 400 government services, including birth and death certificates and driving licenses, on WhatsApp, officials said. An agreement regarding this was signed between the Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) and Meta India here on Friday. A total of 429 government services will be available on a single WhatsApp number, officials said. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said, "The government of Odisha is committed to delivering seamless public services, ensuring that every citizen experiences convenience and efficiency at the last mile. This commitment is underscored by our investment in technology and training, aiming to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and enhance overall accessibility." Development Commissioner Anu Garg said she was confident that the Unified WhatsApp Bot will empower people. CGMI's Executive Director Vineet Bharadwaj said ease of access to public services is still a challenge in Odisha. "Currently, there are fo

Odisha inks pact with IRMA for training fisheries officers, farmers

The Odisha government inked an agreement with the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) to enhance the capacity of fisheries officers and progressive farmers in the state, officials said on Wednesday. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by IRMA Director Umakant Dash, Fisheries Director Sadique Alam and Project Director of Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) Rashmi Ranjana Nayak. It was signed on Tuesday in the presence of the state's Development Commissioner Anu Garg. The collaboration aims to enhance the capacity of fisheries officers and progressive farmers through structured residential training programmes focused on fish market development, including training of trainers, officials said. It will help the officers to develop strategies for domestic market consumption, familiarise with marketing techniques, and improve understanding of consumer behaviour, they said. Additionally, the initiative will build skills in .

KIIT suicide: More university officials records statements before committee

Around half a dozen senior KIIT officials on Thursday appeared before the Odisha government's high-level committee probing the death allegedly by suicide of a 20-year-old Nepalese B Tech student Prakriti Lamsal and the subsequent unrest on the campus. The Higher Education department had summoned the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology's (KIIT) chief proctor P K Patnaik, director Sanhita Mishra, Internal Committee chief Ipsita Satpathy, assistant director Smarika Pati and others to appear before the high-level committee. The three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu, heard the views of the KIIT officials and inquired about whether the deceased foreign student (Nepalese girl) had made any complaint of harassment before the private varsity's International Relations Office (IRO) as alleged by other Nepalese students. Earlier, on February 21, KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta and seven other top officials of the varsity had appeared before the .

KIIT issue: Unhappy with reply, BJD, Cong stage walkout in Odisha Assembly

The opposition BJD and Congress on Friday staged a walkout in the Odisha Assembly expressing dissatisfaction with the state Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj's reply to the debate on the KIIT issue. Members cutting across party lines expressed disappointment with what happened at KIIT after the death of a Nepalese student in her hostel room. The BJD and Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter but the state government did not respond to their request. The minister said law will take its course and whoever is guilty will be punished. The unrest in KIIT began after the alleged suicide of 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal, a student from Nepal, on Sunday afternoon. Other Nepalese students staged agitation and demanded justice. However, the KIIT authorities issued suspension notices to about 1,000 Nepalese students and asked them to leave the campus on Monday. Following the intervention of the Centre and the state government, the KIIT authorities had tendered an apolog

KIIT suicide row: Appealed to students to return to University, says police

Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu also mentioned that officials had held talks with the Nepali delegation

Odisha CM Majhi disburses Rs 900 cr to 1.8 mn women under Subhadra scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday disbursed Rs 5,000 each to over 18 lakh women beneficiaries under Subhadra Yojana in the 4th phase of the first instalment in the state. Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Majhi disbursed about Rs 900 crore through direct bank transfer (DBT) system at a function held in Jajpur district. With this, a total of over 98 lakh women have received Rs 5,000 each under the Subhadra Yojana launched by the BJP government in Odisha. Fulfilling the promise, the people's government has provided direct assistance to the beneficiaries through DBT, which has played a significant role in strengthening their financial condition, he said. The chief minister said this scheme is fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the mother power of the state and is helping to build a prosperous Odisha. I believe that all the beneficiaries can empower themselves and strengthen their economic status through sm

Odisha govt to construct 15,000 km of roads every year, says PWD minister

The BJP government in Odisha has set a target of constructing 15,000 km of roads every year, Public Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said. A total of 75,000 km of roads will be constructed in the state over the next five years, he said after chairing a meeting of the department on Friday. A policy on improvement of road communication will also be formulated and address various issues, including reducing road accidents, he said. Harichandan said that to address the problem of roads being dug regularly for laying water pipes, electricity lines, telephone and internet cables, special utility corridors will be built. The policy will also address concerns regarding cutting trees for road construction, he said. It will also mention construction methods and standards for short, medium and long bridges, the minister said. "As problems arise in land acquisition while building roads in rural areas, there will be a special financial provision to resolve this," he said. "Not only new r

Odisha looks beyond temple tourism, sets eyes on destination weddings

Looking beyond temple tourism and Buddhist circuits, the Odisha government is now eying to promote the state for destination weddings and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) tourism. The state has a lot to offer when it comes to the tourism sector. It has a long coastline, beautiful temples, wildlife, natural beauty, ecotourism destinations, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, and dams. Domestic tourists visit these sites around the year, an officer said. As the state seeks to evolve beyond its traditional offerings, it is positioning itself to become a premier hub for high-profile weddings and business events, rivalling the likes of Rajasthan's royal cities, Goa and Kerala, the officer from the state tourism department said. The department has decided to promote popular beach towns such as Puri and Konark in Puri district and Gopalpur in Ganjam district as sites for destination weddings, big meetings and conferences, tourism director Samarth Verma told PTI. "These plac

12 suspected Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounter, total 36 in 2025

The Odisha Police suggested that the actual number of Maoist casualties could be higher and confirmed the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition

Our goal is to make Odisha prosperous state by 2036, says CM Majhi

He emphasised that the state government is fully committed to achieving these objectives

Odisha, Singapore sign MoU to establish FinTech hub in Bhubaneswar

The Government of Odisha's Electronics and IT Department and Singapore's Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) signed an MoU to establish a Global Competency Centre in Bhubaneshwar to foster FinTech collaboration, with a focus on developing an inclusive and sustainable InsureTech and related areas.The MoU was signed during the official visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Odisha on Friday, according to a press release by GFTN. Tharman is on the State Visit to India from January 14 to 18. The initiative marks another positive step commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore in 2025.Commenting on the MoU, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, Odisha aims to leverage GFTN's global expertise and resources to drive innovation and create tailored Fintech solutions in the state."Odisha has emerged as a leader in India's IT sector and now aims to diversify its services sector. The state is fostering innovation and ...