National
Odisha Revises Building Bye-Laws to Enhance Investment Opportunities and Simplify Business Operations
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
Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot
Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.
The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.
According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.
Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.
READ MORE : Hindu Woman Alleges Forced Religious Conversion and Abandonment in Bengaluru
Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.
The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.
National
Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate
Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.
The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.
She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.
After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.
He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.
READ MORE : Bus Driver Rushes Passenger to Hospital after Medical Emergency
People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.
They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.
National
MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
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