Mumbai, Sept. 10 -- The Odisha cabinet approved a Rs 159.49 billion (bn) investment under the Mukhya Mantri Shakti Bikash Yojana to strengthen and expand the state's electricity transmission infrastructure. The chief secretary said it was the largest single investment in the power sector and would build a future-ready transmission network to meet rising industrial and urban demand as well as renewable evacuation. The package aims to boost resilience, capacity and technology adoption across the grid.
For the first time the state will develop a 765 KV transmission network with three new 765 KV grid substations at Khuntuni, Duburi and Kolabira. Two new 400 KV grid substations at Kansbahal and Titilagarh were also approved. With six such substations under construction and five operational, the number of 400 KV substations will rise to 13. At 220 KV level ten more substations received approval, taking the total towards 75 and enabling ring networks in Rourkela, Sambalpur and Bargarh; Bhubaneswar's 220 KV ring was completed in March 2026.
The expanded network will facilitate evacuation of power from floating solar projects on Hirakud and Indravati reservoirs and from land-based solar projects in western and southern Odisha. The Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd plans to deploy artificial intelligence based inspection and predictive maintenance and to modernise 79 substations. OPTCL's transformation capacity is projected to more than double from 29,889 MVA to 63,364 MVA, with upgrades aimed at improving reliability and fault detection.
The cabinet approved a revised Buxi Jagabandhu Assured Water Supply to Habitations scheme to provide sustainable rural drinking water from 2026-27 to 2028-29 with a state funded outlay of Rs 50.45 bn. A Panchasakha Shikhya Setu proposal was cleared and the government will provide a grant of Rs 3.13 bn over five years for school development. Officials said the measures align with wider infrastructure and social service priorities.
Other approvals included Rs 5.39 bn for conversion of key roads from two lane to four lane, Rs 86.53 bn for creation of irrigation potential through deep bore wells with solar and non-solar pumping systems and Rs 6.50 bn for irrigation project based tourism amenities. The cabinet approved restructuring of several state service cadres and amendments to pension rules with provision for seven per cent interest if pension sanction is delayed by more than a year. The investments are intended to support service delivery, connectivity and economic growth across Odisha.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.