Odisha to be among top five developed states in the country: CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar, Aug 29 (UNI) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today announced that all efforts will be made to place Odisha among the top five developed states in the country.

Addressing the closing ceremony of a discussion on “Strengthening the Growth Engine of Odisha” organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Majhi said the primary goal of his government is to ensure Odisha’s transformation into a developed state.

The Chief Minister said Odisha’s mineral resources will be utilized to establish the state as a manufacturing hub. To achieve this, priority is being given to sectors such as mining and metals, chemicals and petrochemicals, IT, startups, agriculture and food processing, tourism, and MSMEs.

He emphasized that the state’s development would be inclusive and not restricted to any particular sector or category. A vision document—described by Majhi as the “collective dream of 4.5 crore people of Odisha”—has already been prepared to guide this mission.
Majhi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the upcoming GST reforms would bring significant changes to the country’s trade sector. “A reduction in GST will boost consumption, which in turn will drive manufacturing and employment generation,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for Odisha to acquire skills across all fields—education, health, and agriculture—to become self-reliant. “We must build world-class infrastructure, create skilled human resources, generate adequate employment opportunities, promote technology and tourism, and make Odisha a leader in green energy,” Majhi added.

Unveiling the Developed Odisha 2036 Roadmap, he said it is based on three guiding principles: People First, Prosperity for All, and Technology-Led Development. He underlined the importance of adopting modern technology to achieve these goals.
Highlighting infrastructure growth, Majhi said railway projects worth about Rs 80,000 crore and highway and road projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore are currently underway in Odisha with central support. The state government also plans to construct 75,000 km of high-quality roads over the next five years and strengthen airport infrastructure to expand air connectivity across India and abroad.
Efforts are being made to enhance port infrastructure as well, with plans to build four new ports in the state. Majhi added that the government is also focusing on urban development, affordable housing, and world-class amenities, noting that urbanization in Odisha is projected to reach 60 percent by 2047.

The cities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Sambalpur will be developed as models of modern urban infrastructure.
Recognizing MSMEs as the largest employment-generating sector, Majhi said the government is implementing cluster-based development programs, ensuring easy credit facilities, and promoting digital platforms for market access to empower small and medium enterprises.