National

Odisha Revises Building Bye-Laws to Enhance Investment Opportunities and Simplify Business Operations

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2025

The Odisha government has announced important amendments to enhance the state’s building bye-laws aimed at attracting investments and improving the ease of doing business.

An official statement released on Wednesday mentioned that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has introduced significant changes to the Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust (Planning and Building Standards) Rules, 2021 (Notification No. 467, dated 21.02.2025), and the Odisha Development Authorities (Planning and Building Standards) Rules, 2020 (Notification No. 468, dated 21.02.2025).

These revisions provide critical relief to standalone and flatted factories, particularly benefiting the MSME sector and IT/ITeS businesses in Odisha.

The new amendments are set to increase economic freedom and enhance the overall business environment in Odisha. Notably, they eliminate ground coverage requirements, lower parking and setback regulations, and raise the base Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for factories and IT/ITeS facilities.

Consequently, both plotted and flatted factories can now occupy over 70% of the available land, flatted factories can house twice as many units as previously allowed, and IT/ITeS organizations can construct more buildings with fewer floors, according to an official.

To stimulate large-scale commercial development along wider roads, the government is offering incentives such as relaxed Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirements. Specifically, the base FAR for commercial properties on roads that are 18 meters (60 feet) wide or wider has been increased to encourage expansive commercial growth.

Additionally, for all industrial constructions, the restrictions on ground coverage and the necessity for purchasable FAR or Transferable Development Rights (TDR) have been entirely eliminated. Parking mandates for industrial buildings have also been significantly reduced from 30% to 8%, allowing for greater development of industrial zones.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja emphasized that “deregulation is an idea whose time has come” and stated that these regulatory changes will enhance the ease of doing business, promote innovation, embrace new technologies, and provide a competitive edge for Odisha.

He highlighted the state’s commitment to fundamentally transforming the relationship between regulators and businesses, transitioning from a regulatory role to one of facilitation.

MSMEs stand to gain significantly from these reforms, with the space constrained by previous building standards reduced by 60%. This creates more opportunities for job creation and business growth. With these initiatives, Odisha is positioning itself as a leader in optimizing industrial land use, lowering compliance hurdles, and ensuring robust growth avenues for entrepreneurs, startups, and global investors, the statement concluded.

—

National

Marriage Turns into Alleged Fraud as Woman Flees with Jewellery

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Chandigarh: A woman who allegedly posed as a PCS officer and married an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab reportedly fled with gold and silver jewellery and other valuables just a few months after the wedding.

AAP Joint Secretary Amarinder Singh Mandofal has alleged that he was cheated by the woman, identified as Manwinder Kaur. The two got married in February 2026 after Kaur’s family introduced her to Amarinder as a PCS officer.

According to Amarinder’s complaint, the woman was also presented as unmarried. However, he later allegedly discovered that she had been married earlier and had a son aged around 18. He also claimed that she had provided false information about her age.

The woman allegedly left the house with gold and silver jewellery and other valuable items a few months after the marriage. Amarinder said he became suspicious and later gathered information about her past.

Based on his complaint, police have registered a case against six people, including Kaur, on charges of cheating and forgery.

The FIR names her brother Tarlochan Singh, mother Varinderjit Kaur, cousin Narinder Singh Goldy, sister-in-law Rupinder Kaur, and former village sarpanch Surinder Singh Rana as co-accused.

Police said all the accused are residents of Sur Singh village under the Bhikhiwind police station limits in Tarn Taran district.

The wedding had been attended by several prominent AAP leaders and public representatives, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh.

Videos and pictures from the wedding celebrations have also gone viral on social media.

Police have begun an investigation into the allegations and the background of the accused.

National

Man Dies by Suicide after Jumping from 43rd Floor

Published

5 days ago

October 4, 2026

Namma Kudla

Noida: A man died by suicide after jumping from the 43rd floor of the Supernova Tower in Noida on Saturday.

The incident took place at the Supernova complex in Sector 94. A video shows the man standing near the railing before jumping. Another person tried to stop him but could not prevent the incident.

Police identified the deceased as Sambhav Jain, a resident of Manesar, Haryana. He had reportedly checked into an Airbnb in the building on Friday and was scheduled to leave on Saturday.

Police said Jain had called his father several times before the incident. His family has been informed.

The police and forensic teams inspected the spot and collected evidence. CCTV footage is also being checked as part of the investigation.

Police said Jain was reportedly under severe financial stress. His body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

The investigation is underway.

National

Captain Smit Machchhar Shares Ordeal with PM Modi

Published

6 days ago

October 3, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar over a video call and praised his courage after he helped prevent a major air disaster.

Captain Machchhar was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 MAX reportedly lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot. A second pair of pilots then took control and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. More than 170 passengers and crew were on board.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Captain Machchhar told PM Modi that he was badly injured and had collapsed in the cockpit. He realised that the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude and that he had to act.

“I could not let all those people die,” he told the Prime Minister.

Captain Machchhar said his 17 years of flying experience helped him understand what was happening to the aircraft. He managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew came to his help.

He also said he was chanting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting the pain and fear.

PM Modi praised the captain’s courage, patience and presence of mind. He said Captain Machchhar’s actions helped save many lives and called his effort a “monumental task.”

Captain Machchhar, who is from Gujarat, has more than 9,750 flying hours and has served as a captain for 11 years.