1, Oct 2026
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.
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- By Neel Achary
1, Oct 2026
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.
1, Oct 2026
Odisha Launches Statewide Innovation Challenge to Tap Grassroots Ideas
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): The Odisha government on Wednesday launched the Odisha Seva First Innovation Challenge (OSFIC), a statewide initiative aimed at identifying innovative ideas and developing practical solutions to challenges faced by people and communities.
Pic Credit: x.com/SampadSwainBJP
The programme was launched by Startup Odisha under the MSME Department at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar in the presence of state ministers, policymakers, industry representatives and members of the startup ecosystem.
Over one lakh participants targeted
The innovation challenge seeks to bring together more than one lakh participants under three broad categories — Students, Youth and Grassroots Innovation Talents.
The initiative is open to students from schools, universities and technical institutions, startups and MSMEs, as well as artisans, farmers, women’s self-help groups, senior citizens and members of NCC and NSS units, among other eligible participants.
MSME and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said the ideas emerging from the top 20 winners would be compiled into a dedicated compendium to showcase their innovations and potentially help connect them with investment opportunities.
He encouraged students and young people to pursue innovative ideas and assured them of government support in taking promising concepts forward. He also highlighted the need to strengthen incubation infrastructure and foster entrepreneurship.
Ministers pitch innovation for public good
Industries and Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said innovative ideas could emerge from diverse sections of society, including villages, farms, artisan communities, educational institutions and women-led initiatives.
He stressed that innovation should ultimately contribute to improving the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
Science & Technology and Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra called for greater focus on innovations that can contribute to public service and nation-building.
He also said a blueprint had been prepared under the proposed Odisha Innovation Mission, with areas such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence identified for attention.
Portal launched, MoUs signed
The launch event also saw the unveiling of the OSFIC web portal, through which eligible participants can register for the challenge.
Strategic MoUs were signed between Startup Odisha and AIIMS Bhubaneswar, World Skill Centre and ASSOCHAM as part of efforts to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
One-time capital grants were also distributed to incubators, including ACURATE, NIST, CIPET and SOA.
Startup Odisha CEO Smruti Ranjan Pradhan delivered the welcome address, while MSME Commissioner-cum-Secretary and Startup Odisha Chairperson Rashmita Panda outlined the initiative’s objectives.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik attended the launch as the distinguished guest.
The challenge will culminate in a grand finale, where selected innovators will receive financial rewards. The initiative is aimed at creating a wider platform for ideas emerging not only from established startups and institutions but also from communities and individuals working at the grassroots level.
1, Oct 2026
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.
1, Oct 2026
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.
1, Oct 2026
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.
1, Oct 2026
Odisha Clears INR 22,634-Crore Sovereign AI Infrastructure Project by SentraForge AI
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1 (UDN): Odisha has approved a proposed ₹22,634-crore sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project by SentraForge AI, marking a major investment in the state’s emerging technology and high-performance computing ecosystem.
The project was cleared by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) at its 46th meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The proposed facility is expected to focus on next-generation AI computing infrastructure, including high-density computing capabilities, advanced AI workloads and applications for enterprises and institutions.
SentraForge AI partners with GVPR Engineers
The project is being developed through a strategic partnership between SentraForge AI and GVPR Engineers Limited. GVPR is expected to serve as the project’s core equity backer, infrastructure co-promoter and key execution partner.
The partnership brings together SentraForge AI’s focus on sovereign AI and computing infrastructure with GVPR’s experience in large-scale infrastructure development.
GVPR’s capabilities include power transmission, high-voltage substations and heavy civil engineering, which are expected to support the development of the proposed AI infrastructure facility.
Focus on sovereign AI computing
The proposed investment comes as demand for high-performance computing infrastructure grows alongside the expansion of India’s AI ecosystem.
The facility is envisioned as an integrated platform capable of supporting advanced AI workloads and institutional and enterprise applications. The project could also strengthen Odisha’s position as a destination for technology-intensive infrastructure investments.
Following the HLCA approval, the project partners are expected to move towards detailed engineering, project mobilisation and execution planning.
Odisha clears ₹2.47 lakh crore investment pipeline
The SentraForge AI proposal was among 27 projects approved at the HLCA’s 46th meeting.
Together, the projects represent proposed investments of approximately ₹2,47,115.70 crore across 15 districts and are expected to have the potential to generate around 50,162 jobs.
The approval of the SentraForge AI project adds a major technology-focused investment to Odisha’s broader industrial and infrastructure pipeline, alongside projects spanning multiple sectors.
30, Sep 2026
Accor Taps Mews as First Partner in New Program to Modernize Hotel Dining
With Mews POS already live in more than 850 Accor properties across 20+ countries, the partnership brings hotel restaurants and bars onto modern, unified technology that connects dining to revenue and guest loyalty
New York, NY – Wednesday, September 30th 2026- 9:00am EST – Accor is bringing modern, standardized technology to food & beverage (F&B) across its Premium, Midscale and Economy portfolio, and has welcomed Mews, the operating system for hospitality, as the first partner in its new F&B Technology Program. Mews POS (point-of-sale) is already live across more than 850 Accor properties in 20+ countries.
The program builds on Accor’s successful rationalization of its CRS, PMS, RMS, MICE and payment systems. F&B is a key source of total revenue growth for Accor hotels, and as the group continues to strengthen its dining offer across its Luxury, Lifestyle, Premium, Midscale and Economy portfolios, standardizing the technology behind it is set to unlock greater operational efficiency. Modern POS solutions help properties streamline operations, optimize costs, improve inventory management and gain greater visibility through real-time reporting. The program gives properties a curated panel of preferred solutions to help maximize total revenue and bring dining experiences deeper into Accor’s Loyalty ecosystem.
Property teams gain one system for ordering, menu management, inventory and real-time reporting – cloud-native, mobile-first and quick to go live, backed by an average support response time of under one hour.
“For our hotels, F&B is a fantastic revenue driver and a powerful engine to drive guest loyalty,” said Jean Noel Lau Keng Lun, Chief Distribution Officer at Accor. “Following the rationalization of our CRS, PMS, RMS, MICE and payment systems, we are now set to streamline our F&B technology stack. As part of this strategy, we are establishing a new F&B Technology Program with a curated panel of preferred solutions available to our properties to help them maximize total revenue and integrate dining experiences deeper into our Loyalty ecosystem. I am pleased to welcome Mews as the first Partner joining this program.”
“No two properties can run exactly the same F&B operation. Brand Dining Concepts perform even better when relevant to local demand and culture, and adapted to the specific context of each property,” added Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews. “Mews POS is built for that reality: quick to deploy and run without dedicated IT supportand adaptable enough to fit both Brand Dining Concept and the local operational situation. Mews POS differs from standalone POS solutions because it features a world‑class Open API and, like the rest of Mews OS, belongs to an open ecosystem rather than a silo, enabling Accor to connect F&B operations to their broader guest loyalty journey.”
30, Sep 2026
Liquibase Secure 6.0 Brings Database Change Governance to Enterprise Scale
New release gives enterprises one place to see database change, govern how it happens, and control who can change the rules as human and AI-driven development accelerates
AUSTIN, Texas, September 30, 2026 – Liquibase, the leader in Database Change Governance, today announced the general availability of Liquibase Secure 6.0, a major release that makes it easier for enterprises to automate and govern database change across mission-critical applications, data products, and AI initiatives.
The way enterprises build and deliver technology is changing quickly. Application and data teams are releasing more often, developers have more autonomy, and AI is dramatically increasing the volume of code and database change enterprises produce. But the controls around database change have not kept pace. Policies are still often scattered across pipelines, configuration files, repositories, and teams, making them difficult to manage consistently as organizations scale.
Liquibase Secure 6.0 changes that model by moving database change governance from pipeline-by-pipeline configuration to enterprise scale. Organizations can see database change across the enterprise, understand and remediate issues when they occur, define and manage policies from one place, set governed exceptions when they are needed, and control who has the authority to manage those policies. It gives enterprises a simpler way to answer three questions that become harder as the volume of change grows: What changed? Was it allowed? Who controls the rules?
“AI is dramatically increasing the volume of application and database change enterprises produce. Governance has to become a force multiplier for that innovation, not the thing that slows it down,” said Pete Pickerill, Co-Founder at Liquibase. “With Liquibase Secure 6.0, organizations can establish the rules once, automate how they are enforced, and give teams more freedom to move quickly because the right controls are already in place.”
Change Intelligence Turns Database Change Visibility Into Action
At the center of Liquibase Secure 6.0 is Change Intelligence, a completely new capability that gives enterprises a clearer picture of database change across applications, pipelines, teams, and environments.
Database teams have historically had to reconstruct what happened from pipeline logs, tickets, screenshots, and other disconnected sources. That becomes especially painful when something goes wrong. Teams need to understand what changed, where it failed, whether environments have drifted, what risk was introduced, and what they should do next.
Change Intelligence brings deployment activity, environment status, drift, policy outcomes, failures, and change history together in one place. Teams can understand how changes are moving across environments, identify where risk is building, and see what needs attention without manually piecing together the story across individual pipelines and tools.
More importantly, Change Intelligence helps teams move from visibility to action. When a deployment fails, AI-driven analysis helps teams understand what happened and provides remediation guidance to resolve the issue faster. Change Intelligence also centralizes audit evidence, giving engineering, security, and compliance teams a structured record of database change throughout the delivery lifecycle.
For executives and operators alike, Change Intelligence helps enterprises understand what is happening across the database estate, identify problems faster, and determine what to do next.
Making Enterprise Database Change Governance Easier
Governance has traditionally come with a tradeoff. Enterprises want consistent standards and stronger controls but they don’t want to create another layer of process that slows down delivery.
Liquibase Secure 6.0 also introduces a new graphical interface for policy management that makes governing database change much easier. Teams can create, organize, apply, and manage policies from one place instead of relying on pipeline-by-pipeline configuration or specialized command-line knowledge.
The new experience includes 50+ prebuilt policy rules based on years of working with some of the world’s largest and most complex enterprises. Teams can start with proven controls, organize them into reusable policy packages, and apply them across the applications and environments where they are needed.
The new experience also makes exceptions part of the governance model rather than something teams have to work around. When a legitimate exception is needed, teams can scope where it applies, document why it exists, control who can make it, and retain the decision in the audit history. Organizations can maintain consistent standards without pretending every application, data product, team, or database operates exactly the same way.
Controlling Who Can Change the Rules
As database change governance moves from individual pipelines to the enterprise, organizations also need control over who owns and manages those standards.
Liquibase Secure 6.0 introduces role-based access control that determines who can manage policies, assignments, exceptions, and governed assets. Organizations can separate ownership of governance from application and data delivery, creating clear responsibilities around who defines the rules and who works within them.
This allows enterprises to maintain separation of duties without taking autonomy away from development teams. Developers can continue moving quickly inside established boundaries, while database, platform, security, and compliance teams maintain control over the standards that protect the organization.
Together, Change Intelligence, centralized policy management, and role-based access control create a new operating model for database change. Enterprises can see what changed, govern what is allowed, and control who owns the rules from one platform rather than stitching together controls across individual pipelines.
Governance as a Force Multiplier for AI
AI is increasing how quickly enterprises can build and deliver applications and data products. But that advantage erodes if every increase in development speed creates a corresponding increase in manual review, operational risk, and governance overhead.
That is why governance becomes a force multiplier for AI. When database standards are defined up front and enforced automatically, enterprises can move faster with AI without requiring a human to review every database change it helps create. Whether a change is written by a developer or generated with AI assistance, the same policies and controls can be applied before it reaches production.
The goal is not to slow AI down so existing governance processes can keep up. Liquibase Secure 6.0 makes it possible for governance to operate at the speed of development, giving teams the freedom to increase the speed and volume of change while maintaining the controls the enterprise requires.
That model extends beyond AI. Liquibase Secure supports more than 65 database platforms, giving organizations a consistent governance layer across heterogeneous database environments. Platform and DevOps teams can scale database self-service without scaling governance overhead, database teams can spend less time rebuilding controls and reviewing routine changes, and security and compliance teams can put controls and evidence closer to the point of change.
As mission-critical applications, data products, and AI initiatives increase the speed, volume, and sources of database change, Liquibase Secure 6.0 gives enterprises one place to see that change, govern how it happens, and control who can change the rules, whether the change comes from a human or AI.
Liquibase Secure 6.0 is generally available September 30, 2026. The release includes Change Intelligence, the new graphical interface for centralized policy management, role-based access control, governed exception management, and 50 prebuilt policy rules.
For more information about Liquibase Secure 6.0, visit www.liquibase.com/liquibase-
30, Sep 2026
Odisha Poll Panel Begins Groundwork For 2027 Panchayat, Urban Elections
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 30 (UDN): The Odisha State Election Commission has stepped up preparations for the 2027 Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, organising a state-level training programme for officials involved in the electoral process.
The training programme was held under the chairmanship of State Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi, with senior officials from districts, blocks and urban local bodies taking part.
Additional District Collectors, Deputy District Collectors, District Panchayat Officers, Assistant and Deputy Commissioners, Executive Officers, Block Development Officers and BLO Supervisors attended the programme.
The sessions focused on key aspects of election preparedness, including preparation and revision of electoral rolls, field-level verification, election management and administrative procedures.
Addressing the officials, SEC Madhusudan Padhi stressed the need for accuracy, transparency and accountability throughout the election process. He also called for electoral services that are accessible and convenient for citizens.
Door-to-Door Verification Gets Special Focus
A major focus of the training was the door-to-door verification of electoral rolls. Field officials were instructed to ensure that eligible voters who may have been left out are included in the rolls and that errors relating to names, addresses and other voter details are corrected in accordance with the rules.
Officials were also directed to take appropriate action regarding voters who are found to be ineligible or absent during the verification exercise.
The Commission emphasised that accurate electoral rolls are essential for ensuring an inclusive election process and called for thorough house-to-house verification at the field level.
Officials Briefed On Panchayat, Municipal Poll Preparations
The programme also highlighted the importance of coordination among district, block and urban-level officials to complete election-related assignments within the prescribed timelines.
Municipal Director Arindam Dakua briefed participants on the door-to-door survey process for municipal elections, while Joint Secretary of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Surya Narayan Dash discussed key aspects of preparations for Panchayat elections.
Officials involved in pilot surveys also shared their field experiences. Bhubaneswar Deputy Collector Minoranja Sahu, Balipatna GPDO Haraprasad Mohanty and BLO Supervisor Sudhakar Behera spoke about the practical challenges and experiences encountered during field-level verification.
A question-and-answer session was held at the end of the training, allowing participating officers to seek clarification on electoral surveys and voter-list preparation.
The State Election Commission said coordinated field-level action and accurate electoral rolls would remain central to preparations for the 2027 Panchayat and Urban elections in Odisha.
