Odisha government has announced a complete waiver of “ground rent” for public festival committees operating under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area.
The exemption will remain in effect for celebrations held between Oct 17 and Nov 18, 2026.
Previously, various puja committees organising community Durga Puja, Gajalakshmi Puja, and Kali Puja were required to pay ground fees ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. This complete waiver significantly eases the financial burden on organisers, allowing them to host grander cultural celebrations with renewed enthusiasm.
Expressing deep gratitude, Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh thanked Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on behalf of the state BJP, praising the culture-friendly decision. He noted that the move will double the joy of the festive season across the capital city.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Majhi has urged all puja organisers to ensure that celebrations remain peaceful, disciplined, clean, and environmentally friendly.
