Odisha cabinet gives nod to Rs 4,708-crore power project

The Odisha cabinet approved 13 proposals, including a Rs 4,708-crore pumped storage power project, free Wi-Fi for college students and unlimited attempts for candidates appearing in the state civil services examination till the prescribed upper age limit,according to agency reports.
The cabinet gave its nod to the proposals at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday.“The cabinet has approved, the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project at Ranibahal, Kalahandi district. The state will spend a total of Rs 4,708.64 crore, including Rs 3,371.88 crore for construction of the project,” Chief Secretary Anu Garg told reporters.

CMO Odisha tweets, "The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, approved a series of significant proposals aimed at strengthening governance, expanding opportunities, improving public services and accelerating the State’s development. Odisha Shikshanet - Free Wi-Fi for Colleges: A ₹393.62 crore scheme providing free Wi-Fi and up to 1 GB of daily data to students across 601 Government and aided colleges. Recruitment of Assistant Town Planners: Amendments to facilitate direct recruitment of 19 Assistant Town Planners through OPSC, with revised age and educational criteria. Restructuring of the Panchayat Executive Officers Cadre: A restructured cadre of 3,294 posts, creating enhanced career progression opportunities and strengthening grassroots administration. No Limit on Attempts in OCS Examination: Removal of the attempt limit for eligible candidates appearing in the Odisha Civil Services Examination. Odisha Bovine Breeding (Regulation) Bill, 2026: A regulatory framework for scientific breeding, quality assurance and traceability of breeding services, with a focus on improved livestock productivity. Seven Mega Lift Irrigation Schemes in Nuapada: Seven schemes with an execution cost of ₹268.22 crore, creating irrigation potential across 8,800 hectares in 59 villages. In-stream Storage Project in Balangir: A ₹99.99 crore project near Patharla village to ensure water supply to 12 villages and support livelihoods. Food and Paddy Procurement Policy for KMS 2026–27: A procurement target of 53 LMT of rice, equivalent to approximately 78 LMT of paddy, with farmers receiving ₹3,100 per quintal, including MSP and input assistance. Kursud In-stream Storage Project: An ₹81.36 crore project on the Indra river in Balangir district, benefiting 17 drought-prone villages across Titilagarh and Bangomunda blocks."

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2026

Describing it as the first project of its kind in the state, Garg said it is targeted for commissioning by the 2030-31 financial year. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) has been selected as the project developer.The 600 MW facility will generate approximately 1,040 million units (MU) of annual peak electricity, officials said.
The project will serve as a grid-scale energy storage system, absorbing surplus electricity during off-peak hours and generating power during periods of peak demand, the chief secretary said.The cabinet also approved three proposals of the Water Resources Department worth Rs 450 crore for in-stream storage projects and mega lift irrigation units.
In another decision, it cleared a proposal of the General Administration and Public Grievance (GA&PG) Department to amend the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991.“The key change eliminates all restrictions on the number of attempts for the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Examination. A candidate can appear for the examination until his/her upper age limit,” Garg said.
The cabinet also approved the Odisha Shikshanet project, worth Rs 393.62 crore, to provide free campus Wi-Fi with a daily limit of 1 GB across 601 colleges, benefiting around six lakh students, she said.Besides, it cleared the Paddy Procurement Policy for the Kharif Marketing Season 2026-27. The government will procure at least 78 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers at Rs 3,100 per quintal, with payments transferred directly to their bank accounts within 24-48 hours.The government also approved a proposal to extend the tenure of around 5,000 private fair price shop (PDS) dealers by one year, until September 30, 2027.