Page 27 - Odisha

Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh sworn in as new chief justice of Orissa HC

Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh on Wednesday took oath as the 33rd chief justice of Orissa High Court. Governor Raghubar Das administered the oath of office to the new chief justice in a swearing-in ceremony held on Orissa High Court premises here. Born on January 20, 1963, Justice Singh was enrolled as an advocate in 1990 after completing a law degree from the University of Delhi (Campus Law Centre). He was appointed as additional standing counsel in the central government in 1998 and continued as such till October 2001, official sources said. Singh also served as additional advocate general in Bihar and continued as such till his elevation as an additional judge, Patna High Court, in April 2012, they said. He assumed charge as acting chief justice of Patna High Court in February 2023. Last week, President Droupadi Murmu appointed him as the chief justice of Orissa High Court after consultations with the Chief Justice of India, they added.

PM Modi lays foundation stones of projects worth Rs 68,000 crore in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore. Besides inaugurating the 400-crore permanent campus of IIM, Sambalpur, Modi unveiled several infrastructure projects across various sectors such as power, roads and railways. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the IIM campus in 2021. The PM also flagged off the Puri-Sonepur-Puri weekly express, which will improve connectivity in the region, and dedicated the Jharsuguda Head Post Office Heritage Building to the nation. He also inaugurated the 412-km DhamraAngul pipeline section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline project (JHBDPL)'. Built at a cost of around Rs 2,450 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga', the project will connect Odisha with the National Gas Grid. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the function.

PM Modi to visit Odisha, address first public meeting in state in 5 yrs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Odisha on Saturday afternoon to unveil projects worth Rs 68,400 crore, including the new campus of IIM-Sambalpur, officials said. During the visit, Modi will address a public meeting, his first in the state in nearly five years. The prime minister will reach the Jharsuguda airport around 1 pm, and head to the IIM-Sambalpur campus where CM Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will join him, they said. Besides the Rs 400-crore campus, Modi will also unveil infrastructure projects worth Rs 68,000 crore. These projects span sectors such as power, roads and railways. Modi will address a public meeting at Remed Ground around 3 pm, before leaving for Guwahati, officials said. He had addressed the last public meeting in the state in April 2019 in Kendrapara in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls and assembly elections in the state, which were held simultaneously. The prime minister visited the state

PM to inaugurate projects worth over Rs 2K cr of CIL arm MCL on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday inaugurate projects worth over Rs 2,000 crore of Coal India arm Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd in Odisha. "Prime Minister will inaugurate pivotal projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) in Odisha on February 3," the coal ministry said in a statement. Among these is the Bhubaneswari Phase-I, a First Mile Connectivity (FMC) project in Talcher Coalfields, Angul district, built at a cost of Rs 335 crore. This project aims to reduce rake loading time, curb carbon emission and reduce transportation costs. Another important project which would be inaugurated is the Lajkura Rapid Loading System, constructed at an investment of about Rs 375 crore. This system is also designed to enhance coal quality and supply and reduce green house gas emission as well as transportation cost. "These endeavours not only significantly alleviate environmental impact but also create valuable employment opportunities for the local youth," the coal ministry said. Modi

PM Modi to launch projects worth Rs 68k crore during Odisha visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday lay the foundation stone for the first phase of Talabira thermal power station in Jharsuguda, Odisha estimated at Rs 27,212 crore. Talking to media virtually, NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli said Modi will lay the foundation stone for first phase (2,400 MW) of the project. The CMD further said 800 MW of the Ultra Super Critical Pit Head Thermal Power Project is also planned in the second phase with an investment of over Rs 8,000 crore. Commercial operation is expected in 2028-29. Leveraging on the cost benefits of a pit head project, the coal for the units will be fed from adjacent Talabira II and III operational mines of NLCIL through eco-friendly conveyor system without involving costly road and rail transportation. The project would be able to supply power at one of the cheapest tariffs among all thermal power stations in the country. This project would generate huge employment ...

Petronet LNG Q3FY24 results: Net profit rises 1.2% to Rs 1,191 crore

Higher operational efficiency and capacity utilization at Petronet's Dahej LNG terminal drives profit

Modi wave felt across India including Odisha: Union minister Pradhan

Claiming that India has been witnessing a "Modi Wave", senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday asserted that Odisha is all set to witness a major political change with the people of the state reposing trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan said this while attending booth-level public contact programmes in Bhubaneswar and Pipili. "Today, entire India including Odisha has been witnessing a Modi wave. The blessings and respect of the people of Odisha towards the Prime Minister are increasing. Modi guarantee is the hope of people," Pradhan said. During the booth-level public contact programmes, he had breakfast and food in house of BJP workers in different places and also painted the party's poll symbol 'lotus' at the doorstep of the house he visited. Taking to X, Pradhan said, "Joined a walk at Gobindpur Siula I Pipili, the heart of rich art, culture and heritage. I put stickers on Modiji's message in every house and met the village

PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Odisha twice in Feb: Manmohan Samal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Odisha twice in February, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said on Sunday. Modi, who is scheduled to visit Odisha's Sambalpur on February 3 and address a public meeting, may also visit the state capital on February 10 when the saffron party holds its national women's conference here, Samal said. "The party has decided to hold two women's conferences, one in Madhya Pradesh and the second in Odisha in February. The prime minister is likely to attend the women's conference in Odisha tentatively on February 10. The PM has given his consent to attend it", Samal said, adding that the details of the February 10 programme will be announced soon. He said around 25,000 women from 14 states are likely to attend the Mahila Samavesh, which is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to make a dent into the trusted women vote bank of Biju Janata Dal. Earlier in the day, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who hails from Odisha had indicated ..

Odisha has created new history in all areas of development, says CM Patnaik

Odisha is on the path of transformation. In the last twenty years, the state has created new history in all areas of development, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday

Volvo Bus India bags order for 122 premium coaches from Odisha govt

Volvo Bus India on Thursday said it has bagged an order for the supply of 122 premium luxury coaches from the Odisha government. The order comes under the Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) Scheme, a flagship programme initiated by the state government to provide rural connectivity through Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). "We are honoured to be selected as the preferred partner for this landmark initiative by OSRTC and the Government of Odisha," VE Commercial Vehicles MD and CEO Vinod Aggarwal said in a statement. OSRTC MD Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak said the collaboration for the deployment of premium buses is a testament to the shared vision of creating a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation network. "This will have a long-lasting impact on government initiatives that aim to transform transportation infrastructure and contribute to the socio-economic development in rural and urban areas," he added. Over the past 25 years, Volvo Bu

Schools, colleges in Odisha to be shut on Jan 27 for temple project launch

Schools and colleges across Odisha will remain closed on Saturday on the occasion of the launch of a temple redevelopment project in Sambalpur, officials said. The decision was taken to facilitate people to join the inauguration of the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project, they said. All government offices will remain shut on that day as it's the fourth Saturday of the month. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to launch the Rs 200-crore project, spread over an area of around 40 acres. The initiative includes beautification and peripheral development of the temple, a heritage corridor and modern amenities, the officials said.

Odisha clears JSW's Rs 40,000 cr proposal to set up EV manufacturing units

The Odisha government on Monday approved 14 proposals including the JSW Group's plan to set up electric vehicles and component manufacturing units in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore, a senior official said. The proposals were approved at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "The Cabinet approved a special incentive package for the JSW Group's ambitious EV and component manufacturing projects at Naraj in Cuttack, and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district", chief secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told reporters. These projects, with a combined investment of over Rs 40,000 crore and employment potential of over 11,000, are set to usher in a new era of industrial growth and job creation in the state, he said. The JSW Group has proposed to set- up an EV & EV battery manufacturing project at Naraj, Cuttack. The company is also planning to set up an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) plant for EVs and components in the same ...

Patnaik lays foundation stone for in-stream storage project in 13 districts

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone for 19 in-stream storage structures worth Rs 4,600 crore in 13 districts of the state. Besides becoming a major tool for flood control management, the structures will help in drinking water supply, fish farming, animal husbandry, and increase the groundwater level and balance the environment, Patnaik said. The structures will be built in Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khurda, Puri, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh districts. Patnaik said such projects were very important for sustainable development. He said that in 2020, the plan for in-stream storage structures was prepared with an allocation of Rs 11,700 crore. So far, 72 such projects have been undertaken in three phases, he said, adding that no one will be displaced by it. The chief minister also spoke about the various measures taken by his government for the welfare of farmers. "Our programmes like Ka

Jindal Steel & Power commissions 6 MTPA hot strip mill at Angul steel plant

Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) Ltd on Friday announced the commissioning of a 6 MTPA hot strip mill at its steel manufacturing facility in Angul, Odisha. The mill has been commissioned in a record time of 29 months, the hot strip mill (HSM) produced the first set of coils on January 10, 2024, which were dispatched this week on Monday, JSP said in a statement. "Supplied by SMS SIEMAG, the HSM is capable of producing 1.00 mm thick and 1,680 mm wide coils and is equipped with advanced features like transfer bar cooling, edge heater, coil box, and heat shields, ensuring top-notch flatness, uniform mechanical properties, and production of superior value-added grades," it said. Commissioning of the HSM positions the company to cater to various sectors, including auto, construction, oil, downstream cold rolling, galvanising, colour coating, etc, JSP said. "Commissioning of HSM at Angul is an important milestone for Jindal to become a serious player in the flat products market. That it has b

Ram mandir: These states have declared a holiday on January 22. Check list

Several states have declared a public holiday or half day on January 22 in honour of the 'Pran Prathishtha' ceremony for the Ram mandir in Ayodhya

With Jagannatha temple corridor, Naveen Patnaik's BJD looks to one-up BJP

With the grand unveiling of the Jagannatha heritage corridor, Naveen Patnaik plans to undercut any gains the BJP may have in Odisha because of the Ayodhya event

Will not contest Lok Sabha polls from Balasore, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Balasore seat in Odisha, putting speculations to rest. Speculations were rife that the BJP may field Vaishnaw, a Rajya Sabha MP, in the Balasore seat in the Lok Sabha elections. He was the district collector of Balasore as an IAS officer. "I will not contest from Balasore. We have Pratap 'Nana' here," he told reporters, referring to sitting BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, who is a former Union minister. The speculations were further fuelled by Vaishnaw's extensive visits to various places in Balasore and attending public programmes. He visited the Balasore railway station in the morning, and asked officers to write 'Baleswar', as the place is known in Odia, instead of 'Balasore' in signages. He also visited Jhadheshwar Shiv temple along with Sarangi. He donated an ambulance to the Balasore district hospital, and also went to the AIIMS satellite hospital nearby. Last week, when Vaishnaw vi

BHEL to set up 2,400 MW thermal power plant at Odisha's Jharsuguda

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will set up a greenfield thermal power plant of 2,400 MW capacity in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, an official statement said on Saturday. NLC India Limited, a Navaratna company under the Ministry of Coal, has awarded the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contract to BHEL to set the 2,400 MW capacity (3x800 MW-stage I) after inviting competitive tenders, it said. The contract scope to BHEL includes engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection and commissioning of equipment such as boilers, turbines and generators for the plant, the statement said. For the thermal project, coal linkage is available from Talabira II and III mines of NLCIL. The water required for the project will be sourced from Hirakud reservoir, it said. The first unit of the project is scheduled for commissioning in the financial year 2028-29.

Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates Gopinathpur Nilgiri-Balasore railway line

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Saturday inaugurated the 18 km stretch of Gopinathpur Nilgiri-Balasore passenger railway line and flagged off a newly introduced MEMU train. The MEMU train between Gopinathpur Nilgiri to Balasore in South Eastern Railway division will operate thrice in a day, railway official said. Flagging off the train at Gopinathpur Nilgiri railway station, Vaishnaw said that Odisha on an average gets Rs 10,000 crore each year for the development of railway infrastructure under the NDA government of Narendra Modi. The allocation for the state under the UPA government was very low. He said Odisha is getting Modi's special attention for development of railways and no delegation from Odisha is required to seek it. While the average expansion of railway track was earlier only 25 to 30 km a year, it is more than 450 km in the national network in a year now, the minister said. Speaking of the railway projects in Odisha, Vaishnaw said the Jaleswar-Chandaneswar rail rou

DRDO successfully flight-tests new Akash missile off Odisha coast

Lighter and more deadly, the Akash-NG will protect airfields in the northeast