Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, visited Bhubaneswar today to review Odisha’s power sector and urban development initiatives.
The meeting with senior officials covered critical topics such as fly ash utilization, capacity addition, transmission infrastructure, and power allocation.
The Minister assured a joint meeting with the Ministries of Coal, Environment, and Railways to address fly ash utilization comprehensively, including rail rake provisions for transportation. Odisha’s 20 GW operational coal-based thermal power capacity, with 10 GW in the pipeline, was highlighted, and the Minister encouraged pit-head thermal power plant development through joint ventures.
On transmission, Odisha shared its intra-state planning strategy and progress in strengthening supply to cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Minister informed that the Green Energy Corridor proposal will be taken up by MNRE post-March 2025. He also assured Odisha’s inclusion in the next phase of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and adequate power allocation from NLCIL’s Talabira Thermal Power Project.
Urban development discussions emphasized transforming Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Khordha into Growth Hubs. The Minister supported the Greater Bhubaneswar area project and advised exploring funding under the 15th Finance Commission. Sustainable urban mobility initiatives include deploying 400 electric buses under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Scheme and advancing the Bhubaneswar Metro project.
Housing initiatives under PMAY-Urban (PMAY-2) propose 50,000 new houses, with continued coordination for approval. Odisha’s progress under AMRUT, including the 24×7 water supply project, was lauded. The Minister directed prioritizing legacy waste clearance under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and intensifying PM SVANidhi scheme implementation for street vendors.
The visit underscores the Centre’s commitment to Odisha’s sustainable growth and improved quality of life for citizens.
