Bhubaneswar: Odisha Works Department reshuffle has triggered widespread criticism, with allegations of favouritism and mismanagement coming to the forefront. After the BJP government took charge in Odisha, there were high expectations of a complete overhaul in the Works Department, which was notorious for corruption, tender manipulation, project delays, and nepotism under Secretary Veer Vikram Yadav.

Yadav, accused of operating the department with a loyal group of dishonest officials, continues to retain his position, raising questions about the government’s commitment to transparency. Despite hopes of replacing Yadav with a more competent officer, he remains in power, fueling allegations of undue sympathy and favoritism.

Long-Standing Controversial Appointments Persist

Top engineers and officials with questionable records have managed to secure long-term postings in key positions, particularly in the State capital, Bhubaneswar. For instance, Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) Sameer Hota, who is currently the Managing Director of Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) and Director of Design in the Works Department, has remained in OBCC and Nirman Sadan for 15 years. Despite starting his career as an Assistant Engineer, Hota has no significant field experience, making his continued high-profile postings contentious.

Similarly, Prafulla Kumar Nayak, who retired as Chief Construction Engineer of the Roads and Bridge section on August 31, 2024, has been reappointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the same wing. This decision contradicts the BJP government’s earlier stance of not rehiring retired officers. Nayak, a close aide of former EIC (Civil) Manoranjan Mishra—allegedly involved in multiple scams worth crores—continues to wield influence in the department.

Another example is Subrahansu Sekhar Swain, who has held a position in the EIC office since 2007 and remains stationed there. These long-standing appointments have drawn criticism for perpetuating inefficiency and corruption. Odisha Works Department reshuffle.

Odisha Works Department reshuffle controversy

On December 17, 2024, the Works Department announced a major reshuffle involving 67 officials. However, many officers with serious allegations against them have been rewarded with plum postings in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. For example, Trinath Behera, Chief Construction Engineer (CCE) of the Roads and Bridges Division in Cuttack, secured postings in Division I and V of Bhubaneswar since 2023. Similarly, CCEs like Prabhas Majhi and Purna Chandra Dalei, both facing corruption allegations, were also reassigned to influential positions.

The reshuffle has sidelined competent officers with field expertise, relegating them to the Rural Development Department and other less impactful roles. Meanwhile, women officials were notably excluded from divisional charges, sparking concerns about gender bias in appointments.

A Systemic Failure

The continued dominance of the Secretary’s alleged “coterie” highlights the systemic issues plaguing the Works Department. Despite the reshuffle, many tainted officers remain in influential positions, undermining the department’s efficiency and reputation.

The BJP government’s inability to deliver on its promise of a transparent and merit-based overhaul in the Works Department has disappointed many. This reshuffle, instead of streamlining operations, appears to have further entrenched the existing network of favoritism and corruption.

The Odisha Works Department’s recent reshuffle exposes deep-rooted issues of favoritism and inefficiency. By retaining officials with controversial records in key positions, the government has drawn criticism for prioritizing loyalty over competence. This approach risks derailing efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency in one of the state’s most critical departments.

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