Prahlad Narayan Sharma Appointed Puri Municipal Commissioner; Pawan Kumar Posted as Redhakhol SDM

The Odisha government has appointed 2022‑batch IAS officer Prahlad Narayan Sharma as the first Commissioner of the newly formed Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC).

His earlier posting as Chief Development Officer‑cum‑Executive Officer of Kataka Zilla Parishad has been cancelled.

Sharma succeeds Arugula Sneha, who had been holding additional charge since March 2026.

The appointment comes at a crucial time, as Puri’s civic responsibilities have expanded following its upgrade to a municipal corporation earlier this year.

The city, known for its year‑round pilgrim inflow and the annual Rath Yatra, requires strengthened governance in sanitation, drainage, vendor regulation, and tourism infrastructure.

In a parallel reshuffle, Pawan Kumar, a 2024‑batch IAS officer, has been posted as Sub‑Collector and Sub‑Divisional Magistrate of Redhakhol in Sambalpur district.

His earlier posting as Sub‑Collector of Titilagarh, announced just three days ago, has been cancelled.

These changes reflect the state government’s effort to streamline administrative responsibilities and bolster urban governance in key districts.