A State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday took 11 major decisions relating to the Departments of Finance, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, General Administration and Public Grievances, Works and Housing and Urban Development.
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said the Cabinet decided for construction and widening of the Biju Expressway for enhanced connectivity between western and southern Odisha to boost economic and industrial development in the regions. Besides, the Cabinet also resolved to develop the box culvert carriage road over main drain No-1 from Pattapol to Matrubhawan in Cuttack city.
An expanded 174.5-km Biju Expressway would boost trade and industrial activities as the State Government is also working on leveraging development of the expressway as a ‘Biju Express Economic Corridor’ through the Department of Industries.
With a total approved cost of Rs 448.02 crore, the project would be developed in EPC mode as a 4-lane carriageway and include construction of 17 minor bridges and eight major bridges.
The total length of the expressway would include 104.65 km from Ghatipada to Sinapali in Nuapada district and 69.85 km from Dharmagarh to Ampani in Kalahandi district. The Cabinet also took a decision to amend the Odisha Govt. Servants' Conduct Rules, 1959, as per which every servant is required to make a true and complete declaration of all his movable and immovable assets with their value. Earlier on December 28, 2020, the Cabinet had decided that all Government employees and peoples' representatives are required to submit their annual property returns to the Government and the same shall be placed in the public domain for information of general public. A copy of the property statement shall also be forwarded to the Lokayukta for his information.
The provisions under the Rule-21 of the Odisha Govt. Servants' Conduct Rules, 1959 are required to be amended to implement above decision. The Cabinet also decided to increase strength of OAS posts in different cadres in view of new requirements in various departments.
While OAS Group A(JB) posts would remain unchanged, the Group A(SB) posts would be increased from 330 to 385, Super Time Scale posts from 235 to 270, Superior Administrative Grade posts from 125 to 215 and Special Secretary posts from 25 to 65.