Author: Neel Achary

Odisha Works Minister Orders Swift Repairs of Rain-Damaged Roads

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Odisha Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has directed officials to undertake immediate repairs of roads damaged by heavy rain, flooding and landslides across the state, stressing that road connectivity and quality must not be compromised.

 Pic Credit: x.com/PWD_Odisha

Harichandan issued the directions while chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday, where he assessed the condition of several damaged road stretches and the progress of restoration work.

Among the roads reviewed were the Nakhara-Niali and Adaspur-Jagatsinghpur stretches, Kalinga Ghati road, along with damaged roads in Koraput, Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Paradip.

Engineers Told to Monitor Roads Regularly

The Minister directed engineers at all levels, from the Engineer-in-Chief to Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and Junior Engineers, to conduct regular inspections of roads under their respective jurisdictions.

They have also been asked to submit road-condition reports every 15 days and remain present during construction and repair works to ensure adherence to quality standards.

Taking note of photographs and reports of damaged roads being circulated on social media, Harichandan instructed officials to act promptly and complete restoration work without unnecessary delay.

He further directed the department to initiate legal action against contractor agencies found responsible for substandard work.

Focus on Faster Tendering, File Processing

Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh called for greater transparency in the tendering process and measures to speed up the award of works.

The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Works Information Management and Information System (WIMIS), with officials directed to improve its effectiveness and prevent avoidable delays in file processing.

Senior officials, including EIC and Special Secretary Sameer Hota, Engineer-in-Chief (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, Financial Advisor and Special Secretary Ratikanta Mohapatra, Additional Secretaries Deepak Ranjan Das and Pradeep Kumar Sahu, along with Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers from different zones, participated in the meeting both physically and virtually.

Dy CM Pravati Parida Reviews Visitor Facilities at Nandankanan

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday visited Nandankanan Zoological Park and reviewed the facilities and infrastructure available for tourists at the popular wildlife destination.

During her visit, Parida assessed existing visitor amenities and discussed measures to further improve facilities for tourists travelling to Nandankanan from Odisha and other parts of the country.

Focus on visitor amenities

The review covered several basic facilities, including drinking water, restrooms, transportation and other visitor services.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to identify gaps in existing infrastructure and undertake necessary improvements at the earliest to make visits more convenient and comfortable.

Development with focus on conservation

Parida also stressed the need to ensure that tourism-related infrastructure is developed without compromising the natural environment and wildlife of Nandankanan.

Officials were asked to maintain a balance between improving visitor facilities and protecting the ecological character of the zoological park.

The Deputy Chief Minister said timely implementation of the proposed measures would help provide visitors with a safer and more pleasant experience.

Senior officials attend review

Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Tourism Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, and senior officials from the Forest and Tourism departments were present during the review.

The visit comes as the state government continues to focus on improving tourism infrastructure and visitor facilities at major attractions across Odisha.

Special Gram Sabhas Across Odisha on Gandhi Jayanti; Focus on Grassroots Planning

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Special Gram Sabhas will be held across all Gram Panchayats in Odisha on October 2, marking Gandhi Jayanti, with the state government calling for greater community participation in local development planning.

Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has urged Sarpanchs to ensure that the meetings are inclusive, participatory and focused on issues affecting local communities.

Gram Swaraj at the centre

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, Naik called for villagers to actively identify problems, assess community needs, explore local opportunities and determine development priorities.

He stressed that the views and participation of villagers should form the basis of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) under the People’s Plan Campaign 2026-27.

‘Reform Utsav’ to be a key theme

This year’s special Gram Sabha will also focus on ‘Reform Utsav’, with Sarpanchs asked to encourage wider participation in discussions on government schemes, reform measures and issues related to rural development.

The meetings are expected to provide villagers with a platform to raise local concerns and contribute directly to decisions concerning development activities in their respective Gram Panchayats.

Government pushes participatory planning

The state government has emphasised that stronger community participation can help align village-level development plans with the actual needs and priorities of local residents.

The October 2 Gram Sabhas are therefore expected to serve as an important forum for consolidating public opinion and incorporating grassroots priorities into the planning process for the coming year.

Harichandan Reviews Works Department Projects in Cuttack, Balasore

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Odisha Works, Law and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Wednesday reviewed the progress of major infrastructure projects under the Works Department in the Cuttack and Balasore divisions, directing officials to remove bottlenecks and adhere to construction timelines.

The review covered a range of ongoing road, bridge and other infrastructure projects, with the minister seeking updates on their implementation, challenges and measures required to expedite the works.

Focus on temple infrastructure

Harichandan also reviewed proposed and ongoing infrastructure development around the Mahavinayak Temple in Jajpur, with emphasis on peripheral development, beautification and improved facilities for devotees and tourists.

Development plans for Chhatiabat Temple were also discussed. The proposals include widening approach roads, improving connectivity and strengthening infrastructure in the surrounding areas.

Key projects reviewed in Balasore

In the Balasore division, the minister took stock of the progress of the Balasore Ring Road, the road connecting Fakir Mohan Golai with Station Chhak, the Judicial Hub and several other road, bridge and infrastructure projects.

Officials were directed to closely monitor project execution and address issues affecting progress so that the works can be completed within the stipulated timelines.

Officials attend review meeting

The review meeting was attended by Badachana MLA Amar Kumar Nayak, Balasore MLA Manas Kumar Dutta, Engineer-in-Chief (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, Chief Engineer Shivabrata Taria, Chief Engineer (Bridge) Prabhas Kumar Majhi and Superintending Engineers from the two divisions.

The minister stressed the need for effective coordination among departments and field-level officials to ensure timely execution and quality of public infrastructure projects.

Odisha CEO RS Gopalan Seeks Voluntary Retirement

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) RS Gopalan has applied for voluntary retirement from government service, citing health and personal reasons, official sources said.

Gopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer, has been serving as Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer for nearly two years. He is also holding the additional charge of Secretary of the Excise Department.

The senior bureaucrat has sought voluntary retirement around 18 months ahead of his scheduled retirement, with his service tenure due to end in June 2028.

His application comes while he is serving as the state’s top election official, a position that oversees the electoral administration and implementation of Election Commission directives in Odisha.

Further details regarding the processing of his voluntary retirement application and the appointment of his successor are awaited.

Ahead of Navratri, Odisha Deputy CM Reviews Shikhar Chandi Temple Development

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): With Navratri approaching, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday reviewed the ongoing development and beautification works at the historic Shikhar Chandi Temple in Bhubaneswar, directing officials to speed up the remaining works ahead of the festive season.

The review focused on ensuring better infrastructure and visitor amenities at the popular shrine, which attracts a large number of devotees and tourists, particularly during festivals and the winter tourism season.

First phase targeted before Navratri

During the review, officials briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on the progress of the comprehensive development plan for the temple premises.

The first phase of the project is targeted for completion before Navratri, following which the improved facilities are expected to be opened for devotees.

The planned works include temple-area beautification, improvement and widening of approach roads, drinking water facilities, parking arrangements, rest areas and other essential visitor amenities.

Tourism Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary Balwant Singh, senior departmental officials and public representatives attended the review meeting.

Focus on timely completion

Singh apprised the Deputy Chief Minister of the progress of different components of the project and the coordination underway between various departments for their timely execution.

Parida directed officials to ensure that the development works are completed within the stipulated timeframe without compromising construction quality.

She also stressed the need to keep the convenience and safety of devotees and visitors at the centre of the project’s implementation.

Temple to get tourism infrastructure boost

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government is working to develop Shikhar Chandi Temple as a significant spiritual and tourism destination in Bhubaneswar.

The planned infrastructure upgrade is expected to improve the overall visitor experience while strengthening basic facilities around the temple.

With Navratri around the corner, authorities are now working to complete the priority components of the project before the expected increase in footfall during the festive period.