Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today officially revised the English spellings of several districts, sub-divisions, tahasils, blocks and urban local bodies across the state to align them more closely with Odia phonetics and preserve the state's linguistic and cultural identity.

Among the most notable changes are Cuttack being officially spelt as "Kataka" and Rourkela as "Raurkela". Other district headquarters and major towns have also undergone spelling revisions based on Odia pronunciation.

Changes in spellings of places:

Angul → Anugola

Pallahara → Palalahada

Talcher → Talacher

Bolangir → Balangir

Bangamunda → Bangomunda

Balasore → Baleshwar

Nilgiri → Nilagiri

Soro → Sora

Bargarh → Baragada

Rajborasambar → Rajbodasambar

Bonth → Banta

Boudhgarh → Boudhagada

Cuttack → Kataka

Salipur → Salepur

Baramba → Badamba

Athagarh → Athagada

Deogarh → Debagada

Reamal → Riamal

Berhampur → Brahmapur

Hinjilicut → Hinjilikatu

Aska → Asika

Surada → Sorada

Dasarathpur → Dasharathpur

Dharmasala → Dharmashala

Belpahar → Belpahad

Junagarh → Junagada

Dharamgarh → Dharmagada

Jaipatna → Jayapatana

Lanjigarh → Lanjigada

Bhawanipatna → Bhabanipatana

Kandhamal / Khondmal → Kandhamala

Kendrapara → Kendrapada

Aul → Aali

Mahakalapara → Mahakalapada

Keonjhar → Kendujhar

Barbil → Badabil

Keonjhargarh → Kendujhargada

Khurda → Khordha

Bolagarh → Bolagada

Banpur → Banapur

Jatni → Jatani

Jeypore → Jayapur

Podia → Padia

Betnoti → Betanati

Samakhunta → Shamakhunta

Moroda → Morada

Rasgovindpur → Rasagobindapur

Panchpir → Panchapidha

Umerkote → Umarkot

Nayagarh → Nayagada

Daspalla → Dashapalla

Khariar → Khadial

Nimapara → Nimapada

Rairakhol → Redhakhol

Sonepur → Sonpur

Binka → Binika

Sundargarh → Sundaragada

Bonaigarh → Banaigada

Koira → Koida

Lephripara → Lephripada

Subdega → Sabdega

Bargaon → Badagan

Lahunipara → Lahunipada

Rourkela → Raurkela

The state government has directed all departments, district administrations and concerned authorities to adopt the revised spellings in official records and communications.