In a significant step towards accelerating infrastructure development, the Odisha government on Saturday convened a high-level review meeting to finalise the price determination of various construction materials used in roads, bridges, buildings and other public works.
Chaired by Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Works Department, the meeting focused on ensuring that contractors and executing agencies get accurate, updated and transparent rates for materials.
This move is expected to bring greater efficiency, reduce delays in tendering, and ensure optimal utilisation of public funds while maintaining high-quality standards.
Officials discussed the adoption and adaptation of the latest price notifications issued by the Central Government, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Odisha Labour Commission, and public sector oil companies like IOCL, HPCL and BPCL.
The review covered a wide range of items — from basic materials like sand, gravel, cement and bricks to specialised ones such as bitumen, electrical fittings, furniture and other inputs required for modern construction.
“Completing the price determination process at the earliest is essential to keep construction activities moving at full speed,” Singh emphasised during the meeting. He directed officials to finalise the rates without delay so that ongoing and upcoming projects can proceed smoothly.
The meeting, held at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall, was attended by senior engineers and administrators including EIC L.K. Padhi, EIC (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, EIC (Design, Planning & Coordination) Sameer Hota, EIC Roads Dhyan Chand Nayak, Chief Engineers Priyabrat Samantray, Shivbrat Tariya, Arvind Tripathi, and Finance Advisor Ratikanta Mahapatra, among others from Water Resources, Housing & Urban Development, and Rural Development departments.
