Page 12 - Odisha

Odisha shifts tourism pitch with new 'Think India, Think Odisha' tagline

State replaces 'India's Best Kept Secret' tagline with a global-facing identity, aiming to position Odisha as a high-value, experience-driven tourism destination

JSW Steel to sign JV with JFE Steel for Odisha plant expansion on April 24

JSW Steel is set to form a 50:50 joint venture with Japan's JFE Steel for a Rs 32,000 crore expansion of Bhushan Power and Steel in Odisha

Nearly 11,000 get 'zero' electricity bills in Odisha after solar adoption

Nearly 11,000 consumers in western Odisha reported "zero electricity bills" in March 2026 after adopting rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, officials said. As many as 10,885 households achieved zero bills during the month, driven by installations carried out through TP Western Odisha Distribution Ltd's (TPWODL) 1-kW Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) model, which has accelerated solar adoption in the region. According to a company statement, 18,830 consumers had installed rooftop solar systems in western Odisha as of March 2026, indicating a growing shift towards sustainable and self-reliant energy consumption. The figures showed that around 60 per cent of consumers with rooftop solar installations are now receiving zero electricity bills, while the remaining 40 per cent have reduced their monthly bills by over 80 per cent. In March alone, 1,428 consumers recorded zero bills under the model, underscoring the direct financial benefits of decentralised solar

NavPrakriti to invest ₹100 crore in Odisha critical minerals facility

Battery recycling firm plans greenfield plant to extract cobalt, nickel and lithium, boosting domestic recovery of critical minerals and strengthening supply chains

Odisha unveils India's first platinum group metals extraction plant

Trial run of PGM facility in Bhubaneswar marks key step towards domestic extraction of critical minerals, reducing import dependence and boosting strategic capabilities

Odisha flags ₹48,448 crore audit backlog, warns of governance lapses

Finance Department raises concern over 85,000 pending audit reports and objections, highlighting systemic lapses in accountability and fiscal management

Odisha pins hopes on JSW-POSCO steel plant amid stronger India-Korea ties

Proposed 6 mtpa steel plant in Odisha gains traction as JSW and POSCO partner, aligning with efforts by India and South Korea to deepen trade and industrial cooperation

₹90,000 cr rail infra projects under execution in Odisha: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Vaishnaw informed that railway projects worth over ₹90,000 crore are currently under execution in Odisha, marking an unprecedented expansion of the rail network

Four-line rail corridor planned in Odisha to ease Howrah-Chennai congestion

Railways plans a four-line corridor along coastal Odisha to ease congestion on the Howrah-Chennai main line, while upgrading stations and boosting connectivity across the state

Heterogeneous Integration set to break ground for its Odisha semicon unit

The project assumes significance as it will manufacture advanced semiconductor packaging solutions based on glass substrates, a technology considered critical for future high-performance chips

Odisha bets on Niti modeled SITI-Odisha for future planning, reforms

A separate State Monitoring and Evaluation Office (SMEO) will function under SITI-Odisha, similar to the performance-tracking systems associated with Niti Aayog

CAG flags large-scale irregularities in SC/ST land transfers in Odisha

Audit finds violations of legal safeguards and poor scrutiny in approvals for transfer of SC/ST land to non-SC/ST buyers across multiple districts

Hill in conflict: Eastern Ghats unrest recalls Odisha's Niyamgiri story

Tensions flare in Odisha's Sijimali hills as tribal resistance, legal disputes and mining ambitions collide, echoing the legacy of Niyamgiri Hills

Odisha, NCCR sign pact on marine planning under Indo-Norway initiative

Odisha partners NCCR to roll out marine spatial planning under Indo-Norway initiative, aiming to balance coastal economy growth with environmental protection

Odisha Janata Congress launched as new regional alternative to BJP

Former Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim launches Odisha Janata Congress, positioning it as a youth-focused regional alternative amid criticism of BJP, BJD, and Congress

BJD raises delimitation concerns, backs it if Odisha rights intact

BJD has flagged risks to Odisha's political representation under delimitation, while stating it will support the move if the state's rights are fully protected

Over 100 students fall ill, 1 dead after eating food at Odisha govt school

Over 100 students fell ill and one of them, a Class 5 student, died on Tuesday, two days after having a meal at a government-run tribal residential school in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, following which Chief Minister Mohan Charan Mahi ordered a probe, officials said. Officials said the students of the Kakabandha Ashram School complained of discomfort and fell ill after eating food items "not mentioned in the authorised menu" on Sunday morning. Their parents claimed the children had fermented rice ('pakhala'), mashed potatoes, and mango chutney, following which they suffered from loose motion and vomiting. More than 100 students were rushed to the local community health centre, and 67 of them were transferred to PMR Medical College and Hospital in Baripada in serious condition, officials noted. "Rupali Besra, a Class 5 student, had to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on Monday. Despite continuous medical intervention, she died on Tuesday morning," said .

Odisha govt bars power line cuts despite dues nearing ₹7,000 crore

Odisha has barred power disconnections for unpaid bills during summer despite dues nearing Rs 7,000 crore, aiming to provide relief amid heatwave and rising electricity demand

Centre nod for Puri international airport despite WII red flags

Wildlife Institute of India warns of ecological damage and aviation risks at proposed Puri airport site after MoEFCC clears forest land diversion

Odisha to invest ₹3,400 cr through FY32 to upgrade public transport infra

Odisha Cabinet clears ₹3,400 crore Atal Bus Stand scheme to modernise transport infrastructure, improve commuter facilities, and integrate bus stand operations under a unified framework by FY32