Air India Express on Tuesday announced the launch of four new routes from Bhubaneswar as a part of the airline's expansion plan in eastern India. These services will connect the Odisha capital to Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi and Patna, the airline said in a statement. This expansion reinforces Bhubaneswar's connectivity to key regional and cultural centres across India, it said. The services to Jaipur and Kochi will commence on January 3, 2025, followed by the launch of flights to Lucknow on January 4 and Patna on January 15, the statement said. Bookings are now open. The Bhubaneswar-Jaipur flight will operate four days a week - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while the Bhubaneswar-Kochi and Bhubaneswar-Patna flights will operate daily. The Bhubaneswar-Lucknow flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Additionally, the airline showcased Odisha's cultural heritage with its 'Ikat livery', beautifully displayed on one of its newest aircraft, the airline statement
According to the Prime Minister's Office, the three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the all India conference of director generals/inspector generals of police in Bhubaneswar for two days starting Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office said the three-day conference, which begins on Friday, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including counter terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws and narcotics. The conference, it said, will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues besides various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by police. Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control, and law and order management, besides internal security threats. The statement noted Modi has encouraged organising the annual confere
Odisha Police has made extensive security arrangements to tackle any potential threats ahead of the three-day All India DGP/IGP conference beginning here on Friday. The national conference is scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries, officials said. In response to queries about a purported threat issued by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to disrupt the meet, Additional Director General (Law & Order) Sanjay Kumar told PTI, "We are aware of all the threats and have made extensive security arrangements. We will ensure that no untoward incidents take place." On the specifics of security measures, Kumar said around 80 platoons (1 platoon consists of 30 personnel) of Odisha Police, along with 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), including CRPF and BSF personnel, have been deployed at key locations. "The meeting venue and other important places are secured with three-tier security, while
The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday was adjourned for about an hour as opposition BJD and Congress members shouted slogans over the death of three tribal women by eating mango kernel gruel allegedly due to lack of foodgrain. As soon as the House made obituary reference to six ex-members, Speaker Surama Padhy allowed Question House. However, the BJD and Congress MLAs trooped into the well of the House and protested the death of tribal women in Kandhamal district. The members raised slogans against the Mohan Charan Majhi government accusing it of failing to streamline public distribution system for which the people at Mandipanka village in Kandhamal district faced food scarcity leading to the death of three tribal women. As the din continued in the well of the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceeding till 12.25 pm. Earlier, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi moved an obituary reference and the House paid tribute to six of its ex-members. The obituary reference wa
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has proposed formation of a task force in consultation with the Ministry of Power to push efforts to meet India's ambitious target of having 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. The minister for new and renewable energy has also urged industry players and stakeholders to devise strategies which would help the country meet the target in a time-bound manner. Speaking at an event in Bhubaneswar, the minister proposed the formation of a task force, in consultation with the Ministry of Power, to align the efforts of all stakeholders towards meeting the 500 GW target, the ministry for new and renewable energy (MNRE) said in a statement on Thursday. India has already achieved 212 GW of energy from non-fossil fuel sources and is on track to exceed the 2030 target, he said. The minister stressed the importance of concerted, collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to overcome challenges and expedite progress in the renewable energy sector. Joshi furthe
The 18th PBD Convention will be organised from January 8 to January 10 next year in Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha government, and it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. The official website of the 18th PBD Convention was jointly launched by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also joined the launch ceremony. The convention will be organised from January 8 to January 10 next year in Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha government, the MEA said in a statement, adding that the theme of the PBD Convention for 2025 is "Diaspora's contribution to a Viksit Bharat". The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is a flagship event of the government of India. It provides an important platform to engage and connect with the Indian diaspora. The 18th PBD Convention will be inaugur
Odisha and WFP are introducing 'Annapurti' 24-hour grain ATMs statewide to enhance food security. The first machine was launched in Bhubaneshwar on August 9
The police have banned use of disc jockeys (DJ) during Ganesh Puja celebrations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Ganesh puja will be celebrated on September 7 Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said this after holding a meeting with the puja organizers in Cuttack. Similarly, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh held another such meeting here on Sunday. In both meetings, the organizers have been asked not to use DJ music during the puja including idol immersion processions. The idol immersion ceremony in Cuttack is scheduled for September 15, 22 and 29. The Puja committees have been asked to seek prior permission from the local police station seven days before, he said. Similarly, the puja committees in Bhubaneswar will hold the immersion processions on September 8, 11 and 15, said DCP Singh. The Ganesh puja committees have been asked not to play DJ music and install CCTVs in their pandals, he said, adding, "We have directed them to use traditional musical instruments instead of DJs during
The swearing-in ceremony for the first BJP government in Odisha has been rescheduled from June 10 to June 12, party leaders Jatin Mohanty and Vijaypal Singh Tomar confirmed here on Sunday. Mohanty explained that the postponement was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitments. Modi will be busy with his own swearing-in ceremony on Sunday and meeting party MPs the following day. Additionally, the first legislature party meeting of the newly elected members is now set for June 11. During the election campaign, Modi had said Odisha's first BJP government would be sworn in on June 10. BJP state president Manmohan Samal had also confirmed this on Saturday. However, the decision to change the date was taken on Sunday, party sources said. Meanwhile, suspense still remains over the new chief minister. Senior BJP leader and newly elected MLA Suresh Pujari rushed to New Delhi, triggering speculation that he may be among the main contenders for the top post, sources said. Pujari, who
However, all critical clinical services will continue their operations
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 6,225 crore Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project. Before laying the foundation stone at Ratagada Lenka Sahi near Trisulia, Patnaik held a roadshow on the 26 km route of the proposed metro project. People stood on both sides of the road and different groups performed traditional folk dance and music to welcome the chief minister during the roadshow. "Apan Mane Khusi Ta (Are you happy)", Patnaik asked the people gathered on the occasion. "Today (Jan 1, 2024) will remain in the history of Odisha's development. As promised earlier, we are laying the foundation stone of the metro rail project", he said. Stating that this is the state government's single largest investment made in any infrastructure project in Odisha's history, Patnaik said that this is also the flagship project of Odisha under the 5T (transformational) initiative. Patnaik said the project will have 20 stations covering 26 km from Bhubaneswar
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the Bhubaneswar metro rail project on January 1 next year, officials said. Patnaik also approved its detailed project report (DPR) of over Rs 5,900 crore, which will be borne by the state government, they said. "The chief minister is slated to lay the foundation stone for the project on January 1, 2024," an official said. Patnaik approved the DPR while reviewing the status of Phase-I of the metro rail project. "The DPR has been approved at a total cost of Rs 5,929 crore, which will be fully borne by the state government," the official said. Work on the project will start soon and the target for completion is 48 months, another official said. "The Bhubaneswar metro is a landmark project for Odisha... It will further strengthen the public transport in the city and enable its economic growth," Patnaik said. The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation -- a fully owned entity of the Odisha government -- has
Surjya Narayan Patro took over as the Speaker in 2019 and resigned from the post in 2022
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday administered the Panch Pran' pledge to a gathering during a programme at the Central Sanskrit University here and said every Indian should be free from the slavery mindset instilled by the British. India will be developed and self-reliant only if we follow the pledge, she said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the need to eliminate any trace of colonial mindset," she said. Along with Sitharaman, the gathering at the varsity read out the Panch Pran resolve, "We pledge to make India developed and self-reliant by 2047, we pledge to remove any trace of colonial mindset, we pledge to celebrate our heritage, we pledge to strengthen unity and respect those who protect the country and we pledge to perform the duties of a citizen." Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who also attended the event, said, "Modi has launched the 'Meri Mati, Mera Desh' campaign to honour our martyred bravehearts. I thank all of you for tak
Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the redevelopment to be done at a cost of almost Rs 25,000 crore will revolutionise how rail infrastructure is imagined in the nation
The delegation highlighted how the state's Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, which has received Cabinet approval, offers the most generous set of incentives
Heavy rains lashed many parts of Odisha, mostly the coastal region leading to water-logging in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Saturday. The IMD has forecast more rainfall in the state. The water-logging in the state capital led to traffic jams and caused difficulty for people to drive vehicles in knee-deep water in many places while many slums and low-laying areas were submerged under water. IMD said that the highest 118.4 mm rainfall was recorded at Jharsuguda followed by 68.2 mm at Chandbali, 35.2 mm in Bhubaneswar, 13.5 mm in Balasore, 6 mm in Paradip, 7.2 mm in Puri and 10.6 mm at Sambalpur between 8.30 am to 11.30 am. Similarly, the IMD record said that intense rainfall activities were observed in many areas before 8.30 am, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 14.7 mm and 41.8 mm of rainfall respectively by 8.30 am, it said. The IMD also warned that moderate to intense rainfall was in the store for the state capital Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It cautioned on temporar
A major fire broke out in the Odisha State Medical Corporations (OSMC) godown at Mancheswar Industrial estate here reducing medicines and medical equipment worth lakhs of rupees to ashes, police said. However, there was no report of any injury as the fire broke out late on Sunday night. The fire was suspected to have been caused due to electrical short circuit, they said. Taking to Twitter, the Health and Family Welfare department said: "Accidental fire broke out at Mancheswar MARKFED Godown number 3 at late night on 9th July, 2023. Some OSMCL supplies were stored in this godown (PPE kits, sanitizers and empty cylinders). All goods are under insurance coverage. "The fire was controlled by prompt action of police and fire services. There were no injuries or casualties." Seven fire tenders and more than 50 fire personnel were engaged to douse the fire. The fire personnel had to break the wall to get access to the building in order to avoid the fire from spreading to nearby buildings,
The Culture Working Group meeting under India's G2O Presidency will be held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha from May 14-17, as per an official statement.As per the statement, the Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency will highlight 'Culture Unites All' in campaign mode to bring out India's unwavering belief in multilateralism based on peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and communities.Under the 'Culture Unites All' campaign to be held at the second Culture Working Group meet in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha from May 14 - 17 Padma Sudarshan Pattnaik from Odisha will create sand art on the theme at the Puri Beach on May 14. The installation will be inaugurated at 5:30 PM by GK Reddy Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs.It said that in today's interconnected world, culture plays a crucial role in driving collaborative outcomes, and promotes inclusivity and harmonious living"The ...