More than two-and-a-half years after the BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi came to power in Odisha, questions are being raised over whether the administration has been able to break free from the bureaucratic style that allegedly dominated during the previous BJD government under Naveen Patnaik.

One of the most striking examples, critics allege, can be seen in the state Works Department, which plays a crucial role in Odisha’s infrastructure development.

Several engineers have reportedly been promoted to the rank of Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) and are receiving the salary and other benefits attached to the higher post. However, instead of being posted as EICs, some have been directed to continue working in lower-ranking positions of Chief Engineer.

This has raised concerns over promotions without corresponding postings and responsibilities.

Eight EIC Posts, But Several Under Additional Charge

The Works Department has eight sanctioned posts of Engineer-in-Chief. Of these, three EICs are reportedly on deputation to the Rural Development Department.

The remaining five positions are meant to function under the Works Department in key areas, including Civil, DPQ, OBCC, National Highways and EIC-cum-Special Secretary.

Under the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay Rules, 2017, EICs are placed at Pay Level-17.

However, only three officers are currently handling these key responsibilities. They include Satyabrata Behera, Dhyanchand Nayak and Sameer Hota.

The situation has resulted in some officers being given additional charge of more than one department.

One EIC Handling Multiple Responsibilities

A Works Department notification dated October 17, 2025, stated that Er. Satyabrata Behera, then EIC (NH) with additional charge of EIC (Civil-cum-Roads), was transferred and posted as EIC (Civil-cum-Roads). He was also allowed to continue holding additional charge of EIC (NH) until further orders.

Similarly, a government notification dated July 31, 2026, stated that Er. Sameer Hota, EIC (DPQ), would remain in additional charge of the post of EIC-cum-Special Secretary, Works Department, until the appointment of a regular officer.

Questions are now being raised over why multiple departments are being managed through additional charges despite the availability of engineers who have already been promoted to the EIC rank.

Key Departments Without Regular EICs

The absence of regular EICs in important wings such as OBCC and National Highways has also drawn attention.

OBCC, despite being an engineering organisation, is reportedly headed by an IAS officer rather than a regular EIC.

Meanwhile, the National Highways wing is being managed as an additional responsibility by Civil EIC Satyabrata Behera.

Critics have questioned whether the sanctioned EIC posts are being utilised in accordance with the intended administrative structure.

Promoted to EIC, Continued as Chief Engineer

The issue becomes more significant in the cases of engineers who have been formally promoted to the EIC rank but continue to serve as Chief Engineers.

Engineer Priyabrata Samantara was promoted to the rank of EIC (Civil) in the Odisha Engineering Service in Pay Level-17 under the relevant service rules. However, according to a government notification dated July 20, 2026, he was allowed to continue as Chief Engineer, Buildings-I, in the Works Department.

Similarly, Jyotiranajan Satapathy was also promoted to the rank of EIC (Civil) in the higher pay level. However, he has reportedly been allowed to continue as Chief Engineer, RD&QP, under the Works Department.

Chief Engineer posts are generally placed at Pay Level-16, while EICs are placed at Pay Level-17.

Thus, engineers are allegedly receiving the financial benefits of promotion to a higher rank without being entrusted with the corresponding position and responsibilities.

Will EICs Retire as Chief Engineers?

The concern is that if the present arrangement continues, some officers promoted as EICs may retire while still functioning as Chief Engineers.

The cases of Priyabrata Samantara and Jyotiranajan Satapathy are not said to be isolated. Earlier too, engineers such as Arabinda Tripathy and Heeralal Agrawal reportedly retired while serving as Chief Engineers despite having been promoted to the EIC rank.

Such a system, critics argue, affects not only the officers concerned but also the entire gradation structure of the engineering cadre.

Allegations of Favouritism and a Continuing Old System

Questions are also being raised over why eligible officers are not being posted against their respective EIC positions while some officers continue to manage multiple departments.

Critics allege that the practice reflects favouritism and a flawed administrative system.

According to the allegations, a similar precedent was set during the previous BJD government under Naveen Patnaik, when EIC Manoranjan Mishra was reportedly allowed to manage more than one department.

The present situation has therefore triggered criticism that the Mohan Charan Majhi government is continuing the same bureaucratic system rather than reforming it.

Can the Government Break the Bureaucratic Control?

The larger question now is whether the Odisha government will review the posting and deployment of senior engineers in the Works Department.

With eligible officers available in the engineering cadre, critics argue that sanctioned EIC posts should be filled with regular appointments instead of repeatedly assigning additional charge to a few individuals.

The issue is not merely about salary or designation. It concerns administrative accountability, proper utilization of human resources and the functioning of a department responsible for major infrastructure projects across Odisha.

Whether the Mohan Charan Majhi government will intervene to correct the system or allow the existing bureaucratic arrangement to continue remains a key question.

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