Puri to Host Next Eastern Zonal Council Meeting, Confirms Odisha CM

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced that the 28th Eastern Zonal Council meeting will be held in Puri next year. The decision was confirmed following the 27th meeting of the council, which was held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Speaking to reporters at the Biju Patnaik International Airport upon his return from Ranchi, CM Majhi said, “I proposed during the meeting that Odisha would like to host the next edition of the Eastern Zonal Council. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accepted the proposal and suggested that the meeting be held in Puri.”

The Eastern Zonal Council, a statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, facilitates coordination between the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. It serves as a platform for discussing and resolving inter-state issues related to security, development, and governance.

Majhi expressed gratitude to the Union Home Minister and other council members for supporting Odisha’s proposal. He added that hosting the meeting in Puri, a globally recognized heritage and religious destination, would highlight the state’s cultural prominence and administrative readiness.

Officials said preparations for the high-level meeting will begin in advance to ensure that infrastructure and logistical arrangements are in place to welcome representatives from all member states.

The announcement is seen as a strategic move by the Odisha government to position the state as a regional hub for inter-state cooperation and national policymaking.