Bhubaneswar: In a significant push to strengthen the capital city’s power infrastructure, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated three new grid substations and eight key transmission lines at Balianta.

The projects, developed at an estimated cost of around ₹600 crore, include grid substations at Balianta, Satyanagar, and SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. These are expected to benefit nearly 22 lakh consumers in the region.

With the addition of this infrastructure, Bhubaneswar has also been connected to an alternative power source. Plans are underway to further strengthen the network by linking Cuttack and Bhubaneswar through multiple feeder lines, ensuring uninterrupted and quality power supply for residents.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said although these projects had been approved earlier, their execution was delayed due to legal hurdles and other challenges. After the new government assumed office, focused efforts were made to resolve these issues, enabling work to commence about a year ago.

He added the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) has successfully completed four major power projects within a year, including the Nayapalli grid, which became operational last year.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing world-class electricity services in the capital.

Additionally, the Chief Minister announced plans are underway to rejuvenate several rivers in and around Bhubaneswar, with substantial financial allocations approved for the initiative. 

An estimated ₹300 crore has been earmarked for the revival of the Prachi river, ₹75 crore for the second phase of the Dhanua river project, ₹170 crore for the Daya river, and ₹400 crore for the Daya West Canal. These projects aim to restore river ecosystems, improve water flow, and enhance environmental sustainability in the region, he stated.