Odisha, NITI Aayog join hands to realise ‘Developed Odisha 2036’ vision

Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 : The Odisha government on Monday held a high-level interaction with NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer B.V.R. Subramanyam to chart a long-term development roadmap for the state in alignment with national growth priorities under the “Developed India” framework.

The meeting, attended by Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and secretaries of key state departments, focused on synchronising major state and central government programmes to achieve the ambitious “Developed Odisha 2036” vision.

A key highlight of the discussions was the planned development of the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip–Cuttack Economic Region (BCPPER) as an integrated corridor for economic expansion, industrial growth and planned urbanisation. The region is envisioned as a major growth engine for the state, leveraging connectivity, infrastructure and investment potential.

The deliberations also placed strong emphasis on social and economic empowerment of tribal communities. Strategies discussed included value-added processing of forest produce such as Sal seeds, along with skill-based training programmes for tribal youth to prepare them for employment in modern industries and service sectors. It was proposed that such skilling initiatives begin at the school level and extend across higher education institutions.

Sustainable development formed another core agenda, with discussions on accelerating the adoption of renewable and clean energy solutions. The focus was on promoting low-cost, long-term clean energy systems to support Odisha’s transition towards a greener economy.

The meeting reviewed ongoing initiatives under the Memorandum of Understanding between NITI Aayog and the ISEZ Foundation, while innovation and technology-driven governance were explored through platforms such as the NITI Frontier Tech Hub. The Living Lab programme, aimed at implementing research-based interventions to address malnutrition among pregnant women and children, also received special attention.

The role of technology, research and innovation in strengthening governance and service delivery was underscored during the interaction.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration between state and central institutions to build Odisha as a sustainable, inclusive and innovation-led state by 2036.