The government of Odisha has announced the initiation of a new program aimed at constructing 500 kilometers of disaster-resilient roads, with a budget allocation of ₹1,000 crore, as stated by an official. During a meeting held on Wednesday evening, the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, approved eight proposals, including this initiative.
The primary goal of the program is to develop robust road infrastructure that minimizes connectivity disruptions during and after disasters, thereby facilitating uninterrupted access to emergency services in affected regions, according to Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja. These roads are designed to be durable enough to endure damage from disasters with minimal upkeep, serving as vital lifelines in disaster-prone areas. Ahuja further noted that the program will be executed over five years, from the financial year 2025-26 to 2029-30, with an annual budget of ₹200 crore.
Additionally, the cabinet has approved another initiative titled ‘Constituency-wise Allocation’ (CWA) in Odisha, which aims to construct or enhance rural development roads across 142 Assembly constituencies in the state. This scheme will be implemented over three years, from the fiscal year 2024-25 to 2026-27, with a total budget of ₹426 crore.
Furthermore, the state cabinet has sanctioned the ‘Mukhyamantri Bus Seva’ (MBS) scheme, which aims to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and efficient public transport bus connectivity to key locations throughout the state.
The government will offer a 50 percent discount on ticket fares for women, transgender individuals, students, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and senior citizens for both non-AC and AC bus services, with a total allocation of ₹3,278 crore for the scheme over three years. This bus service will connect important business centers, educational institutions, medical facilities, and other places of public interest both within and outside the state, as stated by the chief secretary.
The cabinet has granted approval for the continuation of the ‘Nirmal: Strengthening Ancillary Services at Public Health Facilities’ initiative for an additional five years, with a projected budget of ₹5,174.79 crore. This initiative is designed to improve the environment and quality of care for patients in public health facilities throughout the state, as stated by Ahuja.
Furthermore, the Health Department’s proposal to extend the NIDAAN scheme, which offers free diagnostic and dialysis services, has also received government approval. An allocation of ₹2,459.51 crore has been designated for this scheme over five years to enhance these services at public health facilities statewide, he noted.
Additionally, the cabinet meeting resolved to allocate ₹2,021.87 crore from the state budget for the management of biomedical waste in public healthcare facilities, according to Ahuja. The government has also established 113 new positions within the Odisha Veterinary Technical Service cadre, increasing the total cadre strength to 4,158, as reported by officials.
