Odisha Cabinet Approves Rs 6.1 Billion Urban Development, Boosts Biotech

09 Jun 2025 CW Team

Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet sanctioned the major urban infrastructure plan along with a Rs 1.11 billion initiative to promote biotechnology and life sciences over five years, positioning Odisha as a biotech hub in eastern India.

In addition, the Cabinet waived a land premium of over Rs 26 million for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), facilitating faster expansion of its regional operations on 0.64 acres at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar.

The irrigation sector also saw approval for the Chheligada Irrigation Project, budgeted at Rs 1.51 billion. This project includes building a concrete dam and a single-way canal system to provide assured irrigation to 6,260 hectares of farmland.

These decisions reflect Odisha’s multi-sectoral strategy to drive economic growth, enhance urban living standards, and strengthen infrastructure across the state.

Major Boost for Biotechnology

The Cabinet endorsed an umbrella biotechnology scheme comprising 17 sub-programmes, underscoring the sector’s priority status in Odisha’s 2022 Industrial Policy Resolution. This scheme aims to foster skilled workforce development, research, innovation, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, with targeted incentives for industries, start-ups, and incubators.

Collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions will be promoted to harness biotechnology’s potential in agriculture, medicine, industry, and environmental applications.

The Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 will further incentivise infrastructure development for product and service innovation, aiming to transform Odisha into a knowledge-driven bio-economy that significantly contributes to the state’s economic growth.

Objectives of the Biotechnology Development Scheme

1. Promote higher education, research, and infrastructure in promising biotechnology fields.

2. Strengthen a vibrant ecosystem for innovation, incubation, investment, income, and impact to build industries.

3. Align academic excellence, skilling, and capacity building with industry needs.

4. Encourage product development, commercialisation, and intellectual property monetisation.

5. Leverage breakthrough innovations for Odisha’s socio-economic development.

These approvals mark a significant stride in Odisha’s ambition to become a modern, industrially advanced state with robust urban infrastructure and a thriving biotech sector.

The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved four key proposals, including a Rs 6.1 billion allocation for the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikash Yojana urban development scheme, aimed at upgrading city infrastructure and creating employment across urban areas in the state.Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet sanctioned the major urban infrastructure plan along with a Rs 1.11 billion initiative to promote biotechnology and life sciences over five years, positioning Odisha as a biotech hub in eastern India.In addition, the Cabinet waived a land premium of over Rs 26 million for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), facilitating faster expansion of its regional operations on 0.64 acres at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar.The irrigation sector also saw approval for the Chheligada Irrigation Project, budgeted at Rs 1.51 billion. This project includes building a concrete dam and a single-way canal system to provide assured irrigation to 6,260 hectares of farmland.These decisions reflect Odisha’s multi-sectoral strategy to drive economic growth, enhance urban living standards, and strengthen infrastructure across the state.Major Boost for BiotechnologyThe Cabinet endorsed an umbrella biotechnology scheme comprising 17 sub-programmes, underscoring the sector’s priority status in Odisha’s 2022 Industrial Policy Resolution. This scheme aims to foster skilled workforce development, research, innovation, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, with targeted incentives for industries, start-ups, and incubators.Collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions will be promoted to harness biotechnology’s potential in agriculture, medicine, industry, and environmental applications.The Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 will further incentivise infrastructure development for product and service innovation, aiming to transform Odisha into a knowledge-driven bio-economy that significantly contributes to the state’s economic growth.Objectives of the Biotechnology Development Scheme1. Promote higher education, research, and infrastructure in promising biotechnology fields.2. Strengthen a vibrant ecosystem for innovation, incubation, investment, income, and impact to build industries.3. Align academic excellence, skilling, and capacity building with industry needs.4. Encourage product development, commercialisation, and intellectual property monetisation.5. Leverage breakthrough innovations for Odisha’s socio-economic development.These approvals mark a significant stride in Odisha’s ambition to become a modern, industrially advanced state with robust urban infrastructure and a thriving biotech sector.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..