Bhubaneswar, July 8 -- Odishagovernment is accelerating work on its long-delayed 4 million tonne strategic crude oil reserve (SPR) at Chandikhol. The project was approved by the Cabinet in 2021 but remained stalled for over five years due to land acquisition issues.

According to Money Control, officials confirmed that the land has now been formally registered, allowing initial civil works and construction activity to gather pace.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee report from March 2026, revealed that the project faced repeated funding delays and under-utilisation of resources.

The FY24 allocation of Rs 508 crore was slashed to Rs 40 crore with zero expenditure, reportedly. In FY25, the budget fell from Rs 408 crore to Rs 30 crore, wit...