Bhubaneswar: Travel time between Rayagada and Kereda in southern Odisha is expected to nearly halve with the state Cabinet approving the four-laning of the 25.166-km Rayagada-Kereda Road (MDR-48B) in Rayagada district. The project, estimated to cost Rs 186.19 crore, will be executed at a tender value of Rs 126.94 crore, awarded to Ashribad Engineering &…
Bhubaneswar: In a major push to expand irrigation in water-deficit parts of Odisha, the state Cabinet on Monday approved an Rs 8,653.04-crore scheme to install 1.5 lakh deep borewells across 26 districts, with the government targeting irrigation coverage of 7.5 lakh hectares over the next five years. The scheme will be implemented from 2026-27 to…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to invest Rs 650 crore over the next five years to conserve its historic irrigation infrastructure and develop heritage water sites as tourism destinations, with the state Cabinet approving the Building Odisha’s Irrigation (Project) Tourism Amenities (BOITA) scheme on Monday. The programme, to be implemented from 2026-27 to 2030-31, will be…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to strengthen its agriculture administration with more officers at the senior, district and block levels following the state Cabinet’s approval of a restructuring of the Odisha Agriculture Services Cadre. The restructuring will expand several supervisory positions while reducing the number of entry-level posts, without changing the overall sanctioned strength of the…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to digitise and integrate old records of Bhoodan land with the state’s Bhulekh system while tightening restrictions on its illegal transfer and mutation, as part of a wider push to make land and revenue services more transparent and efficient. The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to undertake another round of regulatory reforms aimed at making compliance simpler for businesses and citizens, with the state Cabinet approving the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026 on Monday. The proposed legislation seeks to rationalise licensing and permission procedures, remove duplicate approvals and reduce the compliance burden by introducing…
Bhubaneswar: More than 300 people are killed every year in Odisha in crashes involving vehicles parked dangerously on roads, prompting the state government to strengthen highway safety measures through dedicated truck terminals for long-haul drivers. The Commerce and Transport Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for the…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to equip 1,200 artisans across 12 districts with advanced tool kits to improve productivity, quality and market access while helping traditional handicrafts adapt to changing consumer demands. The initiative, being implemented through the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Limited (UTKALIKA), covers seven traditional craft sectors—Appliqué, wood, stone, horn, iron, terracotta and…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is working towards creating a unified secondary and higher secondary education board by merging the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), while also expanding digital content, vocational education and open schooling opportunities for students. The proposed merger was announced at the 44th Foundation Day celebration of…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is building a collaborative urban governance ecosystem that brings together government agencies, knowledge institutions, technical experts and innovation partners to help cities find practical solutions to emerging challenges and improve public services. At the centre of this effort is the Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reform (ANKUR), a platform launched by the…
