The Odisha government is preparing to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across its departments, with the Rural Development Department proposing the purchase of premium AI and cloud-based digital services such as ChatGPT Plus, Google AI Pro and Google One to modernise project management and administrative operations.
The proposal aims to make government processes—including file preparation, report writing, data analysis, project reviews and online monitoring—faster, more efficient and data-driven, particularly under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The Office of the Engineer-in-Chief (Rural Works) has written to the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department seeking administrative approval and financial sanction for procuring the premium digital services.
According to the proposal, PMGSY road construction and maintenance activities in Odisha are increasingly being integrated with digital platforms, with greater emphasis on real-time project monitoring, data analytics and faster decision-making. The department noted that the growing volume of digital information has outpaced the capabilities of existing free digital services.
The department handles large volumes of high-resolution road alignment maps, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), construction photographs, geo-tagged records and financial data. To efficiently manage these resources, it has proposed subscribing to premium cloud storage, advanced video conferencing services and AI-powered productivity tools.
Officials believe that ChatGPT Plus can significantly improve routine administrative work by assisting in drafting official letters, preparing reports, writing notes, creating presentations and organising information more efficiently. Meanwhile, Google AI Pro and Google One are expected to provide enhanced cloud storage, better data management capabilities and improved online collaboration tools for departmental staff.
If approved, the initiative would mark another significant step in Odisha’s digital governance strategy, expanding the use of AI and advanced digital technologies in government administration. Officials expect the move to improve project monitoring, data management and overall administrative efficiency, while enabling faster and more effective delivery of public services.