Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Thursday chaired a secretary-level review meeting at Kharavela Bhavan to assess the state’s financial performance, governance initiatives and preparations for a series of public outreach programmes marking two years of the state government’s tenure.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary reviewed the achievements of various departments during May and the current financial year. She lauded Odisha for securing five awards at the National Panchayat Awards 2025, the increase in foreign tourist arrivals, progress under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, and major investment and employment opportunities arising from Memorandums of Understanding signed with Intel and 3DGS through the Electronics and IT Department. Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) was also commended for its contribution towards strengthening the state’s power security.
The meeting reviewed departmental financial performance against budgetary provisions up to May 2026. Officials discussed revenue mobilisation and expenditure trends across sectors. Departments including Water Resources, Rural Development, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, and Commerce and Transport reported improved expenditure performance compared to the corresponding period last year.
Garg directed departments to accelerate expenditure, strengthen revenue collection efforts and expedite land development initiatives. She also emphasised the need for timely compliance with directives and observation notes issued by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The meeting discussed preparations for the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 11 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Departments were instructed to furnish relevant data and inputs for discussions on implementation of recommendations from the fifth Chief Secretaries’ Conference and the theme “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat.”
A major focus of the meeting was the organisation of extensive public engagement programmes to showcase the achievements of the Odisha government over the past two years and strengthen citizen-government interaction. Additional Chief Secretary, Information and Public Relations, Hemant Sharma presented a detailed roadmap for the campaign.
According to the plan, programmes will be conducted at state, district, block and gram panchayat levels to highlight key achievements, welfare schemes of both the state and central governments, and Odisha’s development roadmap for the next three years.
As part of the celebrations, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will address the media on June 9 regarding the implementation of major central government schemes during the 12-year tenure of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He will also present the achievements of his government’s two-year tenure in Odisha.
The meeting reviewed preparations for the state-level event to be held at Rairangpur on June 20 to mark two years of the Odisha government. The programme is expected to be attended by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A five-day exhibition showcasing state and central government initiatives will also be organised in Bhubaneswar from June 12 to 16.
District-level programmes will include exhibitions, project visits, discussions on Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks, and workshops on organic farming under the theme “Viksit Bharat for Viksit Odisha.” Block and gram panchayat-level activities will focus on welfare scheme awareness, beneficiary outreach, land development initiatives and health insurance enrolment drives under the Ayushman Vaya Vandana scheme.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure effective coordination and maximum public participation in the programmes.
The meeting also reviewed measures to reduce fuel consumption through the replacement of conventionally hired petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles in government departments. The General Administration Department briefed officials on the transition strategy.
Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde made a presentation on “Viksit Odisha, Kriyashila Cuttack,” highlighting initiatives including development of Bali Jatra as an international event, promotion of Cuttack’s silver filigree industry, integrated development of Maa Chandi Temple, improvement of Dhabaleswar and other religious sites, tourism infrastructure expansion, Prachi river rejuvenation, textile and industrial parks, redevelopment of SCB Medical College and Hospital, irrigation projects, and major road and bridge infrastructure works.
The meeting also heard a presentation by Commerce and Transport Principal Secretary and OSRTC Chairman-cum-Managing Director N.B.S. Rajput on the performance of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). He informed that extensive reforms, including 100 per cent cashless ticketing, IT-enabled management systems, expansion of inter-state connectivity, operational efficiency measures and fuel conservation initiatives, had enabled the corporation to become profitable during 2025-26.
Officials said OSRTC’s efforts to develop Atal Bus Stands, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar energy systems and e-bus services have strengthened the state’s transition towards a smart, green and sustainable public transport network. The meeting praised the corporation’s achievements in improving efficiency, reducing costs and enhancing passenger-centric service delivery.
Additional Chief Secretaries Chitra Arumugam and Usha Padhee, along with principal secretaries, commissioners-cum-secretaries and senior officials of various departments, attended the meeting.
