Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards digitization and modernization, the Odisha government is planning to procure premium Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and cloud services for its Rural Development Department.
The Office of the Engineer-in-Chief, Rural Works, Bhubaneswar, has sent a formal proposal to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Rural Development Department seeking administrative approval and financial sanction for the purchase of premium cloud storage, advanced video conferencing systems, and AI tool subscriptions including Google Workspace, Google AI Pro, and ChatGPT Plus.
According to the letter dated July 20, 2026, the department is facing operational challenges due to limitations of free-tier digital tools. With the increasing volume of digital assets — such as high-resolution road maps, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), progress photographs, and financial data — under the PMGSY scheme, the current 15GB free cloud storage has become insufficient.
The proposal highlights the need for these tools to enable seamless workflow, real-time project monitoring, data-driven decision making, and uninterrupted high-quality video conferences involving senior officials and field staff.
