The state government has sought Rs 3,050 crore outlay for the development of rail infrastructure in the state in the ensuing 2013-14 Railway budget.

The state had received only Rs 723 crore allocation in last year’s rail budget against its demand of Rs 2,345 crore. Of the total budget allocation sought for the coming year, the government has asked Rs 1,440 crore for construction of nine new lines, Rs 50 crore for gauge conversion (90-km Rupsa- Bangiriposi), Rs 890 crore for doubling and laying of third line in some sections.

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to set up the second Bamboo Bazaar in Bhubaneswar to promote bamboo products that will uplift the socio-economic condition of bamboo-growers in the state. At present, one Bamboo Bazaar is functioning near DAV school in Unit-VIII.

The forest department would spend around Rs 27 lakh for the proposed bazaar under the Centre-sponsored National Bamboo Mission. Recently, it asked the textile and handloom department to explore the feasibility of opening the market in the Urban Haat.

Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller & Auditor General of India(CAG) has detected large-scale irregularities in allotment of land and houses by the Orissa government and estimates a scam of about R4,000 crore.

While sending a draft report to the Orissa government, a copy of which is available with FE, the CAG has suggested that the land and houses allotted to various individuals and organisations is in violation of the laws and policies and be cancelled immediately.

In a bid to provide rapid and safe mass transport, Odisha government has envisioned a futuristic plan for setting up Monorail transit system in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

A proposal to set up the facility has been given by Engineering Projects India Limited (EPI), official sources said here on Wednesday. A presentation made before the state government described the monorail system as a technological innovation entailing many advantages for optimum flow of passengers.

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to replicate the Gujarat model to ensure street food safety in eight cities including Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata among others.

This apart, a senior official of FSSAI said here on Thursday that of the Rs 4,500 crore sanctioned by the Centre under the 12th Five Year Plan, 70 per cent would be given to states to develop infrastructure facilities which includes setting up of food testing laboratories.

Despite concerns from several quarters including the Odisha High Court, bio-medical waste management and handling in different government hospitals including three state-run medical colleges and ho

The villagers of Budi Anchal area, who are likely to be submerged if the proposed lower Suktel irrigation project takes off, expressed their determination to oppose construction of the dam even as

The Odisha High Court (HC) on Thursday declared the agreement between ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd, a city-based firm and Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) ‘null and void’.

ARSS and OSRTC had entered into a pact for developing a modern, state-of-the-art bus terminal over 14.43 acres at the Baramunda locality in the city.
The High Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in this regard in January this year.

Lack of access to sufficient number of fully functional community toilets and the scant number of public toilets have gradually deteriorated the sanitation in the city.

Poaching of migratory birds continues unabated in the Chilika Lake despite warning by wildlife officials against killing of winged guests in Asia's largest blue lagoon.