Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: Bhubaneswar is set to get a Global Visa Application Centre, a move that is expected to significantly ease the process of obtaining international visas for residents of Odisha.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the proposal to establish the facility in the state capital. The centre will function from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal building at Baramunda, with the state government allocating around 3,000 square feet of space for its operations.

At present, people from Odisha are required to travel to cities such as Kolkata, Delhi or Hyderabad to complete visa-related formalities for overseas travel. The absence of a local centre had been a long-standing concern among residents across the state.

Taking note of this demand, the Chief Minister has given the green signal for the project. Once it becomes operational, the Global Visa Application Centre is expected to make the visa application process more accessible, efficient and convenient for the people of Odisha.

The new centre is expected to significantly reduce travel costs, time and logistical hurdles for applicants from across the state. The decision of the state government is expected to benefit a wide cross-section of applicants, including those travelling abroad for education, employment, and tourism.