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

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Infrastructure Energy

05 Nov 2025

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..