Bhubaneswar, Aug 29: The Odisha government has set its sights on a singular and ambitious goal — to secure a position among the top five most developed states in India.
This was informed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today at a high-level discussion forum organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Laghu Udyog Bharati, under the theme “Empowering Odisha’s Growth Engine.”
The Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive roadmap that combines economic expansion, infrastructure development, industrial growth, and social equity to transform Odisha into a national leader in development by 2036.
He expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the upcoming GST reforms—expected next month—will be a major turning point for the Indian economy.
Lower GST rates are likely to boost consumption, which in turn will lead to higher manufacturing, job creation, and overall economic acceleration.
Emphasizing a holistic approach, the Chief Minister announced that agriculture, industry, and social development will be the three primary engines driving Odisha's growth.
The plan focuses on inclusive development, ensuring progress reaches all sectors and communities, not just a select few.
The state government is steadfast in its efforts to transform Odisha into a manufacturing hub by effectively utilizing its vast mineral resources, he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Odisha is currently undergoing one of its most ambitious infrastructure overhauls: ₹80,000 crore worth of railway projects, ₹12,000 crore invested in national highways and roads, ₹8,308 crore approved by the Centre for the Capital Region Ring Road.
The state also plans to construct 75,000 km of high-quality roads over the next five years.
Odisha’s airports are being upgraded for better domestic and international connectivity, while efforts continue to develop the state’s port infrastructure, with plans to build four new ports alongside the existing three, he said.
