Odisha Accelerates Development Agenda; Chief Secretary Reviews Budget, Cyclone Relief and Key Projects
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level review meeting at Kharavela Bhawan to assess the progress of major development initiatives, budget implementation, cyclone relief measures, and governance reforms as the state advances towards its long-term vision of “Viksit Odisha 2036.”
The meeting reviewed the status of flagship projects across departments and emphasised timely execution of development works.
Special attention was given to relief and restoration efforts in Ganjam district following Cyclone Arnab, with departments directed to expedite assistance and rehabilitation measures for affected communities.
Officials highlighted several significant achievements, including the inauguration of the RBI Data Centre by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the groundbreaking ceremony of a major industrial project in Kalinganagar, and renewable energy investment proposals worth ₹1.17 lakh crore.
The state has also signed 18 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), distributed 2,067 appointment letters, and recorded an increase in the anti-corruption conviction rate to 65 per cent.
The review noted Odisha’s strong performance in cleanliness rankings, with Puri, Bhubaneswar and Asika securing notable positions in the Swachh Survekshan assessment.
Expansion of the Adarsha Prathamika Vidyalaya programme to 630 schools and the launch of a new Pension Management Portal were also highlighted.
On the financial front, the state reported encouraging budget performance.
As of October 31, overall expenditure increased by 9.9 per cent year-on-year, while programme expenditure rose by 11 per cent.
Capital outlay registered a significant growth of 27.2 per cent, and infrastructure spending increased by 13.5 per cent, reflecting the government’s focus on development-led growth.
The upcoming state budget is being aligned with the twin visions of “Viksit Odisha 2036” and “Viksit Bharat 2047,” prioritising sectors such as healthcare, education, social security, labour welfare, Mission Shakti, tribal development and skill enhancement.
The meeting also reviewed progress in digital governance.
Odisha currently offers 451 notified public services across 32 departments, of which 371 have been digitised.
Several services have been integrated with the Central Monitoring System, auto-appeal mechanisms and the Aama Sathi WhatsApp chatbot to improve citizen access and transparency.
The review concluded with a call for sustained momentum in project execution, efficient budget utilisation, and accelerated delivery of citizen-centric services to support Odisha’s transformation into a developed state by 2036.
