Bhubaneswar: In a bid to address the rising air pollution levels in the state capital, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to install air purifiers at key locations across the city to help keep the Air Quality Index (AQI) within permissible limits. The initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner, with the…
Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at strengthening sanitation services and improving solid waste management efficiency, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to levy user fees for door-to-door waste collection across the city, covering both residential and commercial establishments, official sources said on Monday. The decision is part of BMC’s broader effort to enhance service…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced an ambitious tourism development roadmap aimed at transforming the state into a leading eco-cultural tourism hub in Asia. The plan envisions the development of 15 iconic tourism destinations and the creation of nearly 15 lakh livelihood opportunities by 2036 under the state’s long-term vision document,…
Bhubaneswar: Dense fog enveloped large parts of Odisha on Saturday, severely disrupting normal life and causing major inconvenience to commuters, as the Regional Meteorological Centre issued alerts for 14 districts across the state. Visibility remained extremely poor until around 10 am, making road travel hazardous. Vehicles were seen moving at a snail’s pace on highways…
Bhubaneswar: The Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department, Government of Odisha, along with the Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), conducted an on-ground inspection of sanitation activities at various locations across Bhubaneswar on Monday. During the inspection, the senior officials reviewed cleanliness levels, waste collection operations and overall sanitation management…
Bhubaneswar: The Safa Bhubaneswar mobile application has witnessed encouraging public response, with more than 200 garbage pickup bookings recorded within just 10 days of its rollout. The initiative, led by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), marks a significant step towards strengthening urban sanitation through citizen participation and digital governance. Officials said the app enables residents…
Bhubaneswar: Normalcy returned to the Shikharchandi hill range on Monday after two adult tusker elephants that had strayed into the area safely returned to the Bharatpur forest following a coordinated overnight operation by the Forest Department. The elephants, whose presence had led to the temporary closure of the popular hilltop shrine and picnic spot, were…
Bhubaneswar: The planned upgrade of Bhubaneswar’s Regional Science Centre (RSC) with 35 new interactive exhibits marks a timely and welcome shift in how science is communicated to the public—especially to young minds. At a moment when attention spans are shrinking and rote learning still dominates many classrooms, the RSC’s move towards play-based, experiential learning reflects…
Bhubaneswar: As the sun sets over the timeless stones of the Konark Sun Temple, Odisha once again steps into the global cultural spotlight. The 36th Konark Festival and the 15th International Sand Art Festival, commencing at the scenic Chandrabhaga Beach, are more than annual events—they are living expressions of the state’s artistic legacy, community spirit,…
Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court’s acceptance of a revised government definition of the Aravalli hills on November 20 has triggered widespread concern among environmental experts and citizen groups, who warn that the move could strip protection from nearly 90 per cent of the ancient hill range. Under the new definition, only landforms rising above 100 metres…