Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level Secretaries’ Meeting at Kharavela Bhawan on Friday to review governance reforms, implementation of government schemes, and key development initiatives across the state. The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretaries of various departments, senior officials from the Chief Minister’s Office, and departmental secretaries.

Focus on Good Governance and Result-Oriented Administration

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed measures aimed at strengthening good governance and promoting a results-based administrative framework. Emphasis was placed on ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centric service delivery through rapid assessment of government schemes and programmes.

Discussions were also held on the implementation of the Odisha Jan Biswas Act and the need to further simplify governance processes to improve public service delivery.

Rapid Survey-Based Assessment Proposed

Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, briefed the meeting on the proposed “Rapid Survey-Based Assessment” mechanism for government schemes and programmes.

The system is expected to provide timely field-level feedback on the implementation of welfare and development initiatives. Officials said the mechanism would help identify gaps, facilitate mid-course corrections, support evidence-based policymaking, and strengthen outcome-oriented governance.

Review of Deregulation and Administrative Efficiency

The meeting reviewed steps taken across industries and other sectors to reduce unnecessary approvals and procedural complexities through regulatory simplification and deregulation measures.

Officials also assessed progress in filling vacant government posts and clearing pending electricity bill dues of various departments.

Preparations for President and Prime Minister’s Visit

Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressed the importance of seamless inter-departmental coordination for the scheduled visit of the President of India and the Prime Minister to Rairangpur on June 20.

She directed all concerned departments to ensure smooth execution of responsibilities and maintain high standards of administrative preparedness during the visit.

Angul Presents Vision for ‘Viksit Angul’

Angul Collector Abdall M. Akhtar presented a roadmap for achieving the vision of “Viksit Angul” through the implementation of 26 major infrastructure and development projects.

Among the key proposals discussed were a 112.56-km outer railway corridor from Budhapank to Luburi via Tentuloi and a 50-km inner railway corridor from Putugadia to Tentuloi. These projects are expected to significantly improve coal and mineral transportation and contribute to industrial growth in Odisha and across the country.

Major Infrastructure and Tourism Projects Reviewed

The meeting also reviewed the upgradation of NH-53 and NH-149, the Talcher–Bimlagarh railway link, and projects related to the development of National Waterway-5.

Officials highlighted notable achievements in mining-affected regions and outlined plans for several transformative projects between March and December 2027. These include:

• Establishment of five mega piped water supply projects
• Expansion of the Aluminium Park
• Full operationalisation of Pabitra Mohan Medical College and Hospital
• Development of the Malyagiri–Rengali–Manjor Eco-Tourism Circuit
• Transformation of Satkosia into a world-class tourism destination

The roadmap presented by the Angul administration aims to accelerate economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance quality of life across the district.

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In a significant step towards improving citizen-centric governance and ensuring timely justice, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department organized a Special Camp Court at UNNATI Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

The initiative was undertaken to expedite the disposal of appeal cases filed under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982, and reduce the backlog of pending cases.

Usha Padhee Presides Over Proceedings

The Camp Court was convened under the leadership of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department. As the designated Appellate Authority for matters related to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), she personally reviewed and heard a large number of pending appeals during the day-long session.

142 Cases Disposed of in a Single Day

A total of 142 appeal cases were heard and disposed of during the Special Camp Court. Most of the cases involved appeals filed by citizens against orders issued by BDA and BMC under the provisions of the ODA Act.

The successful disposal of such a large number of cases in a single day is expected to provide relief to citizens awaiting resolution of their grievances and contribute to reducing case pendency.

Strengthening Transparency and Accountability

Officials stated that the initiative reflects the Department’s commitment to transparent, responsive, and accessible governance. By offering citizens an effective platform to challenge administrative decisions and seek redressal of grievances, the Camp Court reinforced the principles of fairness, accountability, and due process.

Decentralized Appellate System to Speed Up Case Disposal

As part of broader reforms, the state government has recently designated senior officers, including Special Secretaries and Additional Secretaries, as Appellate Authorities for similar cases. This decentralized mechanism is expected to further accelerate the disposal of appeals and improve service delivery in urban areas.

Positive Response from Citizens

The Special Camp Court received an encouraging response from citizens and stakeholders. The Housing & Urban Development Department has announced plans to continue such initiatives in a phased and time-bound manner to clear pending cases and strengthen public confidence in urban governance institutions.

The move is being seen as an important step toward making governance more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly across Odisha.

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