In a high-level meeting that signals stronger Centre-State collaboration, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, along with Member Dr Arvind Virmani, met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan on Saturday.
The discussion centred on Odisha’s development priorities, ongoing reforms, and strategic partnership with NITI Aayog to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.
Chief Minister Majhi highlighted Odisha’s rapid progress in infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, power, and logistics, which he said is fuelling both industrial expansion and rural prosperity. He emphasised the state’s targeted efforts to bolster MSMEs, create manufacturing clusters, attract investments, and generate employment through skill development tailored to local needs.
A key focus of the meeting was the proposed **Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Region (BCPPER)**, envisioned as a major growth engine. The CM sought NITI Aayog’s active support, including guidance and funding through the Urban Challenge Fund, for nearly 90 priority projects that could reshape Odisha’s urban and industrial landscape.
Responding positively, Vice Chairman Suman Bery lauded the leadership of CM Majhi and Odisha’s reform-oriented governance. He noted that the state has become one of India’s top performers in fiscal health while building a stable, investment-friendly business environment. Bery particularly appreciated the state’s reforms aimed at accelerating industrialisation.
Bery suggested giving special attention to **Bhubaneswar** as a model city, focusing on efficient sewage management, cleanliness, green spaces, and sustainable infrastructure. He recommended adopting global best practices, including an integrated urban planning approach similar to the “Texas model,” to position Bhubaneswar as a **benchmark city for the country**.
The NITI Aayog VC also commended Odisha’s proactive engagement in areas such as green energy transition, data-driven governance, skilling reforms, tribal empowerment through value chains, and innovative initiatives like Living Labs under the Frontier Tech Lab. Dr Arvind Virmani echoed these sentiments, praising the state’s forward-looking policies for inclusive growth.
Reaffirming commitment to ease of doing business and investment facilitation in line with national reforms, CM Majhi stated that collaboration with NITI Aayog is crucial to realising Odisha’s vision of rapid, inclusive development and improved quality of life.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Principal Secretary (Finance) Sanjib Mishra, Principal Secretary to CM Saswata Mishra, and Development Commissioner D.K. Singh.
