Odisha’s ambitious MICE tourism strategy faces a major hurdle as Bhubaneswar’s air connectivity shrinks. Even as Odisha rolls out an ambitious strategy to position itself as a leading destination for MICE tourism, a critical challenge threatens to undermine its efforts, shrinking air connectivity from Bhubaneswar, the state’s primary gateway for business travellers.Several domestic and international…

According to industry stakeholders, Bhubaneswar alone hosts at least 12 mega conferences or events in star category hotels on an average per year BHUBANESWAR: Tourism in Odisha has largely revolved around its temples, beaches, wildlife and cultural heritage for years. But now, the state is preparing to script a new chapter, one centred on conferences,…

Malay RayRourkela: In a case of social ostracism, residents of a village in Bargarh district refused to perform the last rites of a 60 to 65-year-old woman, a widow, who had married outside her caste, forcing volunteers of a local social organisation to step in and cremate her body.The deceased, Shanti Bariha of Marhatikra hamlet…

Bhubaneswar: To align skill development with global trade opportunities, World Skill Centre (WSC), Bhubaneswar, and World Trade Centre (WTC), Bhubaneswar, on Friday signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) here.Officials said the initiative aims to enhance the global employability of Odisha’s youth by embedding international industry linkages into training programmes. It also seeks to create…

Bhubaneswar: Conceding to the demand of the millers, who had threatened a stir from June 8, the state govt on Friday raised paddy milling charges from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per quintal for parboiled rice and from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per quintal for raw rice.The CM expressed hope that the move will…

Bhubaneswar: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) officials, on conclusion of their five-day inquiry into the recent lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, said on Friday that they questioned ADG-ranked IPS officer Dayal Gangwar in connection with the case.“We have recorded his statements. Several other police officers, family members of the deceased, eyewitnesses and the…

Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra during his visit to Priyadarshini Market Complex on Friday Bhubaneswar: Priyadarshini Market Complex at CRP Square, one of the city’s prominent commercial hubs, will undergo a major revamp, with BDA planning to undertake a comprehensive redevelopment. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra took the decision on Friday following his…

Vehicles carrying sand seized during the raid Berhampur: Seven sand-laden vehicles were seized by the police at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district on Thursday and five persons were arrested for allegedly transporting sand illegally from the Vansadhara river bed near Kashinagar.In a special drive to crack down on illegal transportation of sand, police carried out raids…

Koraput: A resolution demanding an immediate ban on new bauxite mining projects across Odisha, including the proposed mining at Mali Parbat in Koraput district, was unanimously adopted at the Koraput District Natural Resources Protection Conference organised on World Environment Day at Semiliguda on Friday. Participants alleged that successive governments had been indiscriminately granting mining leases…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief secretary Anu Garg on Friday asked the district administrations to ensure active public participation in a statewide outreach programme to mark the second anniversary of the state govt, beginning June 12.Chairing a virtual meeting with all the collectors, Garg reviewed preparations for the multi-tier events to be held from state to gram…