Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Monday approved an investment proposal of over Rs 15,948 crore to strengthen power infrastructure in the state, a senior official said.
The cabinet of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved 18 proposals from 12 departments during its meeting this evening, she said.
For the first time, the state government will introduce 765 kV (kilovolt) transmission networks with three new grid sub-stations at Khuntuni, Duburi and Kolabira to support industrial growth, domestic demand and renewable energy integration, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said, while addressing media persons after the meeting.
At present, Odisha has five 400kV grid sub-stations (GSS). Six more 400 KV GSS are under implementation. With two more approved during the day for Kansbahal and Titlagarh, the total number of 400 kV grid sub-stations in Odisha will increase to 13, she said.
Similarly, with the approval of 10 more 220 kV grid sub-stations, the total number of such sub-stations will increase to 75. This will complete the 220 KV ring network in Raurkela, Sambalpur and Baragada, Garg said.
These initiatives will also create an adequate network for evacuating power from the floating solar projects of Hirakud and Indravati and ground-mounted solar projects in western and southern Odisha, she added.
Apart from creating new power infrastructure, AI-based maintenance will be introduced for smarter inspection and predictive maintenance of transmission lines while 79 existing substations will be upgraded to meet increasing load demand, she further said.
The state cabinet also approved four road projects worth Rs 538.51 crore in Rayagada district to facilitate smoother traffic movement, lower vehicle operating costs, reduce fuel consumption, improve road safety through modern traffic management measures and enhance overall travel comfort for commuters and freight operators, she said.
The government revised the ‘Buxi Jagabandhu Water Supply to Habitations’ (BASUDHA) scheme, extending its implementation from 2026-27 to 2028-29 with a total state-funded outlay of Rs 5,045 crore.
Garg said the revised BASUDHA scheme is designed to strengthen rural drinking water across Odisha by addressing left-out habitations, incomplete projects, water quality challenges, infrastructure gaps, source sustainability concerns and emerging climate-related risks.
The Odisha government approved the ‘Building Odisha’s Irrigation (Project) Tourism Amenities’ (BOITA) scheme, with an outlay of Rs 650 crore over five years (2026-27 to 2030-31 fiscals), the chief secretary said.
The scheme aims to preserve and renovate historic irrigation structures, showcase traditional water management practices and unlock regional socio-economic opportunities through dedicated heritage irrigation structures, she added.
The cabinet also approved the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, marking the second and broader phase of the state’s regulatory reforms.
Building on the Odisha Jan Vishwas Act, 2025, the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 moves beyond decriminalisation to simplify licensing and permission requirements, remove overlapping and duplicative approvals, introduce longer validity periods for industrial licenses and registrations, and enable intimation-based wherever appropriate.
The Bill amends 62 provisions across 16 state Acts administered by 11 government departments, she stated.
Further, the state has allocated Rs 312.96 crore for implementation of the ‘Panchasakha Shikhya Setu Scheme’, and Rs 8,653.04 crore for five years (2026-27 to 2030-31) for the creation of irrigation potential through deep bore well with solar and non-solar pumping systems.
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